33,354 verses contain “the” (in the KJV: 32,434, in the BSB: 26,201) — showing 6,601–6,700
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And
they cried unto
the children of
Dan. And
they turned
their faces, and said unto
Micah, What aileth
thee, that thou comest with such a company?
When
they called out after
them,
the Danites turned to face
them and said to
Micah, “What is
the matter with you that you have called out such a company?”
And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?
He replied, “You took the gods I had made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you say to me, ‘What is the matter with you?’”
And
the children of
Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest
angry fellows run upon
thee, and thou lose thy life, with
the lives of thy household.
The Danites said to him, “Do not raise your voice against us, or
angry men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.”
And
the children of
Dan went
their way: and when
Micah saw that
they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
So
the Danites went on
their way, and
Micah turned to go back home, because he saw that
they were too strong for him.
And
they took
the things which
Micah had made, and
the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and
they smote them with
the edge of
the sword, and burnt
the city with fire.
After
they had taken
Micah’s idols and his priest,
they went to Laish, to a
tranquil and
unsuspecting people, and
they struck
them with
their swords and burned down
the city.
And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
There was no one to deliver
them, because
the city was far from
Sidon and had no alliance with
anyone; it was in a valley near Beth-rehob. And
the Danites rebuilt
the city and lived
there.
And
they called
the name of
the city
Dan, after
the name of
Dan their father, who was born unto Israel:
howbeit the name of
the city was Laish at
the first.
They named it
Dan, after
their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel—though
the city was formerly named Laish.
And
the children of
Dan set up
the graven image: and
Jonathan,
the son of Gershom,
the son of
Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to
the tribe of
Dan until
the day of
the captivity of
the land.
The Danites set up idols for
themselves, and
Jonathan son of Gershom,
the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for
the tribe of
Dan until
the day of
the captivity of
the land.
And
they set
them up
Micah’s
graven image, which he made, all
the time that
the house of God was in
Shiloh.
So
they set up for
themselves Micah’s
graven image, and it was
there the whole time
the house of God was in
Shiloh.
And it came to pass in those days, when
there was no king in Israel, that
there was a certain
Levite sojourning on
the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a
concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.
Now in those days, when
there was no king in Israel, a
Levite who lived in
the remote hill country of Ephraim took for himself a
concubine from
Bethlehem in Judah.
And his
concubine played
the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Bethlehemjudah, and was
there four whole months.
But she was unfaithful to him and left him to return to her father’s house in
Bethlehem in Judah. After she had been
there four months,
And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant 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.
her husband got up and went after her to speak kindly to her and bring her back, taking his servant and a pair of
donkeys. So
the girl brought him into her father’s house, and when her father saw him, he
gladly welcomed him.
And his father in law,
the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so
they did eat and drink, and
lodged there.
His father-in-law,
the girl’s father, persuaded him to stay, so he remained with him three days, eating, drinking, and
lodging there.
And it came to pass on
the fourth day, when
they arose early in
the morning, that he rose up to depart: and
the damsel’s father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a
morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.
On
the fourth day,
they got up early in
the morning and prepared to depart, but
the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh your heart with a
morsel of bread, and
then you can go.”
And
they sat down, and did eat and drink both of
them together: for
the damsel’s father had said unto
the man, Be content, I pray
thee, and
tarry all night, and let thine heart be
merry.
So
they sat down and
the two of
them ate and
drank together.
Then the girl’s father said to
the man, “Please agree to stay overnight and let your heart be
merry.”
And when
the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him:
therefore he
lodged there again.
The man got up to depart, but his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night.
And he arose early in
the morning on
the fifth day to depart: and
the damsel’s father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray
thee. And
they tarried until
afternoon, and
they did eat both of
them.
On
the fifth day, he got up early in
the morning to depart, but
the girl’s father said, “Please refresh your heart.” So
they waited until late
afternoon and
the two of
them ate.
And when
the man rose up to depart, he, and his
concubine, and his servant, his father in law,
the damsel’s father, said unto him, Behold, now
the day draweth toward evening, I pray you
tarry all night: behold,
the day groweth to an end,
lodge here, that thine heart may be
merry; and to
morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.
When
the man got up to depart with his
concubine and his servant, his father-in-law,
the girl’s father, said to him, “Look,
the day is drawing to a close. Please
spend the night. See,
the day is almost over.
Spend the night here, that your heart may be
merry.
Then you can get up early
tomorrow for your journey home.”
But
the man would not
tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against
Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and
there were with him two
asses saddled, his
concubine also was with him.
But
the man was unwilling to
spend the night. He got up and departed, and arrived opposite
Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two
saddled donkeys and his
concubine.
And when
they were by
Jebus,
the day was far spent; and
the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray
thee, and let us turn in into this city of
the Jebusites, and
lodge in it.
When
they were near
Jebus and
the day was almost gone,
the servant said to his master, “Please, let us stop at this Jebusite city and
spend the night here.”
And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside
hither into
the city of a stranger, that is not of
the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.
But his master replied, “We will not turn aside to the city of foreigners, where there are no Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah.”
And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of
these places to
lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in
Ramah.
He continued, “Come, let us try to reach one of
these towns to
spend the night in Gibeah or
Ramah.”
And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
So they continued on their journey, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.
And
they turned aside thither, to go in and to
lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of
the city: for
there was no man that took
them into his house to
lodging.
They stopped to go in and
lodge in Gibeah.
The Levite went in and sat down in
the city square, but no one would take
them into his home for
the night.
And, behold,
there came an old man from his work out of
the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he
sojourned in Gibeah: but
the men of
the place were Benjamites.
That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was residing in Gibeah (the men of that place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the field.
And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a
wayfaring man in
the street of
the city: and
the old man said,
Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?
When he looked up and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going, and where have you come from?”
And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.
The Levite replied, “We are traveling from
Bethlehem in Judah to
the remote hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to
Bethlehem in Judah, and now I am going to
the house of
the LORD; but no one has taken me into his home,
Yet
there is both straw and
provender for our
asses; and
there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy
handmaid, and for
the young man which is with thy servants:
there is no want of any thing.
even though
there is both straw and feed for our
donkeys, and bread and wine for me and
the maidservant and young man with me.
There is nothing that we, your servants, lack.”
And
the old man said, Peace be with
thee;
howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only
lodge not in
the street.
“Peace to you,” said
the old man. “Let me supply everything you need. Only do not
spend the night in
the square.”
So he brought him into his house, and gave
provender unto
the asses: and
they washed
their feet, and did eat and drink.
So he brought him to his house and fed his
donkeys. And
they washed
their feet and
ate and
drank.
Now as
they were making
their hearts
merry, behold,
the men of
the city, certain sons of
Belial,
beset the house round about, and beat at
the door, and spake to
the master of
the house,
the old man, saying, Bring forth
the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
While they were enjoying themselves, suddenly the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they said to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so we can have relations with him!”
And
the man,
the master of
the house, went out unto
them, and said unto
them,
Nay, my brethren,
nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.
The owner of
the house went out and said to
them, “No, my brothers, do not do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a
guest in my house. Do not commit this
outrage.
Behold, here is my daughter a
maiden, and his
concubine;
them I will bring out now, and humble ye
them, and do with
them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so
vile a thing.
Look, let me bring out my virgin daughter and
the man’s
concubine, and you can use
them and do with
them as you wish. But do not do such a
vile thing to this man.”
But
the men would not
hearken to him: so
the man took his
concubine, and brought her forth unto
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
listen to him. So
the Levite took his
concubine and sent her outside to
them, and
they raped her and
abused her throughout
the night, and at
dawn they let her go.
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, till it was light.
Early that morning,
the woman went back to
the house where her master was staying,
collapsed at
the doorway, and lay
there until it was light.
And 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, and her hands were upon
the threshold.
In
the morning, when her master got up and opened
the doors of
the house to go out on his journey,
there was his
concubine,
collapsed in
the doorway of
the house, with her hands on
the threshold.
And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered.
Then the man took her up upon an
ass, and
the man rose up, and
gat him unto his place.
“Get up,” he told her. “Let us go.” But
there was no
response. So
the man put her on his
donkey and set out for home.
And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his
concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all
the coasts of Israel.
When he reached his house, he
picked up a knife, took hold of his
concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout
the territory of Israel.
And it was so, that all that 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 unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.
And
everyone who saw it said, “Nothing like this has been seen or done from
the day
the Israelites came out of
the land of Egypt until this day. Think it over, take counsel, and speak up!”
Then all
the children of Israel went out, and
the congregation was gathered together as one man, from
Dan even to Beer-
sheba, with
the land of
Gilead, unto
the LORD in Mizpeh.
Then all
the Israelites from
Dan to
Beersheba and from
the land of
Gilead came out, and
the congregation assembled as one man before
the LORD at
Mizpah.
And
the chief 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 that drew sword.
The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?
(Meanwhile
the Benjamites heard that
the Israelites had gone up to
Mizpah.) And
the Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?”
And
the Levite,
the husband of
the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my
concubine, to
lodge.
So
the Levite,
the husband of
the murdered woman, answered: “I and my
concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to
spend the night.
And
the men of Gibeah rose against me, and
beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my
concubine have
they forced, that she is dead.
And during
the night,
the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded
the house.
They intended to kill me, but
they abused my
concubine, and she died.
And 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, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout
the land of Israel’s inheritance, because
they had committed a
lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.
And 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 into his house.
Then all the people stood as one man and said, “Not one of us will return to his tent or to his house.
But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;
Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will go against it as the lot dictates.
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 victual for
the people, that
they may do, when
they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all
the folly that
they have wrought in Israel.
We will take ten men out of every hundred from all
the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for
the army when
they go to Gibeah in Benjamin to
punish them for
the atrocity they have committed in Israel.”
So all
the men of Israel were gathered against
the city,
knit together as one man.
So all the men of Israel gathered as one man, united against the city.
And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?
And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you?
Now
therefore deliver us
the men,
the children of
Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put
them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But
the children of Benjamin would not
hearken to
the voice of
their brethren
the children of Israel:
Hand over
the wicked men of Gibeah so we can put
them to death and
purge Israel of this evil.” But
the Benjamites refused to
heed the voice of
their fellow Israelites.
But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.
And from their cities they came together at Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites.
And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
On that day
the Benjamites
mobilized 26,000
swordsmen from
their cities, in addition to
the 700 select men of Gibeah.
Among all this people
there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could
sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.
Among all
these soldiers
there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could
sling a stone at a hair without missing.
And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.
And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
The Israelites set out, went up to
Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against
the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,”
the LORD replied.
And
the children of Israel rose up in
the morning, and
encamped against Gibeah.
The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near 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 went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah.
And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.
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.
But
the Israelite army took courage and again took
their battle positions in
the same place where
they had
arrayed themselves on
the first day.
(And
the children of Israel went up and
wept before
the LORD until even, and asked counsel of
the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against
the children of Benjamin my brother? And
the LORD said, Go up against him.)
They went up and
wept before
the LORD until evening, inquiring of Him, “Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers
the Benjamites?” And
the LORD answered, “Go up against
them.”
And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
On the second day the Israelites advanced against the Benjamites.
And 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.
That same day the Benjamites came out against them from Gibeah and cut down another 18,000 Israelites, all of them armed with swords.
Then all
the children of Israel, and all
the people, went up, and came unto
the house of God, and
wept, and sat
there before
the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before
the LORD.
Then the Israelites, all
the people, went up to
Bethel, where
they sat
weeping before
the LORD. That day
they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to
the LORD.
And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
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
the LORD said, Go up; for to
morrow I will deliver
them into thine hand.
and
Phinehas son of
Eleazar,
the son of Aaron, served before it.)
The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers
the Benjamites, or should we stop?”
The LORD answered, “Fight, for
tomorrow I will deliver
them into your hand.”
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 other times.
On
the third day
the Israelites went up against
the Benjamites and
arrayed themselves against Gibeah as
they had done before.
And
the children of Benjamin went out against
the people, and were drawn away from
the city; and
they began to
smite of
the people, and kill, as at other times, in
the highways, of which one goeth up to
the house of God, and
the other to Gibeah in
the field, about thirty men of Israel.
The Benjamites came out against
them and were drawn away from
the city.
They began to attack
the people as before, killing about thirty men of Israel in
the fields and on
the roads, one of which led up to
Bethel and
the other to Gibeah.
And
the children of Benjamin said,
They are
smitten down before us, as at
the first. But
the children of Israel said, Let us
flee, and draw
them from
the city unto
the highways.
“We are defeating
them as before,” said
the Benjamites. But
the Israelites said, “Let us retreat and draw
them away from
the city
onto the roads.”
And all
the men of Israel rose up out of
their place, and put
themselves in
array at
Baal-tamar: and
the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of
their places, even out of
the meadows of Gibeah.
So all
the men of Israel got up from
their places and
arrayed themselves at
Baal-tamar, and
the Israelites in
ambush charged from
their positions west of Gibeah.
And
there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and
the battle was
sore: but
they knew not that evil was near
them.
Then 10,000 select men from all Israel made a
frontal assault against Gibeah, and
the battle was fierce. But
the Benjamites did not
realize that
disaster was upon
them.
And
the LORD
smote Benjamin 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.
The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.
So
the children of Benjamin saw that
they were
smitten: for
the men of Israel gave place to
the Benjamites, because
they trusted unto
the liers in wait which
they had set beside Gibeah.
Then the Benjamites realized
they had been defeated. Now
the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because
they were relying on
the ambush they had set against Gibeah.
And
the liers in wait hasted, and
rushed upon Gibeah; and
the liers in wait drew
themselves along, and
smote all
the city with
the edge of
the sword.
The men in
ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah;
they advanced and put
the whole city to
the sword.
Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.
The men of Israel had arranged a signal with
the men in
ambush: When
they sent up a great cloud of smoke from
the city,
And when
the men of Israel retired in
the battle, Benjamin began to
smite and kill of
the men of Israel about thirty persons: for
they said, Surely
they are
smitten down before us, as in
the first battle.
the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.”
But when
the flame began to arise up out of
the city with a
pillar of smoke,
the Benjamites looked behind
them, and, behold,
the flame of
the city ascended up to heaven.
But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke.
And when
the men of Israel turned again,
the men of Benjamin were
amazed: for
they saw that evil was come upon
them.
Then the men of Israel turned back on
them, and
the men of Benjamin were
terrified when
they realized that
disaster had come upon
them.
Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.
So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there.
Thus
they inclosed
the Benjamites round about, and
chased them, and
trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward
the sunrising.
They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.
And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.
And 18,000 Benjamites fell, all men of
valor.
And
they turned and fled toward
the wilderness unto
the rock of
Rimmon: and
they gleaned of
them in
the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after
them unto Gidom, and
slew two thousand men of
them.
Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward
the wilderness to
the rock of
Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on
the roads. And
they overtook
them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more.
So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.
But six hundred men turned and fled to
the wilderness unto
the rock
Rimmon, and abode in
the rock
Rimmon four months.
But 600 men turned and fled into
the wilderness to
the rock of
Rimmon, where
they stayed four months.
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 beast, and all that came to hand: also
they set on fire all
the cities that
they came to.
And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path.
Now
the men of Israel had
sworn in Mizpeh, saying,
There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
Now
the men of Israel had
sworn an oath at
Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a
Benjamite.”
And
the people came to
the house of God, and abode
there till even before God, and lifted up
their voices, and
wept sore;
So
the people came to
Bethel and sat
there before God until evening, lifting up
their voices and
weeping bitterly.
And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?
“Why, O LORD God of Israel,”
they cried out, “has this happened in Israel?
Today in Israel one tribe is missing!”
And it came to pass on
the morrow, that
the people rose early, and built
there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
The next day the people got up early, built an altar there, and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings.
And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
The Israelites asked, “Who among all
the tribes of Israel did not come to
the assembly before
the LORD?” For
they had taken a solemn oath that
anyone who failed to come up before
the LORD at
Mizpah would surely be put to death.
And
the children of Israel
repented them for Benjamin
their brother, and said,
There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
And
the Israelites
grieved for
their brothers,
the Benjamites, and said, “
Today a tribe is cut off from Israel.
How shall we do for wives for
them that remain, seeing we have
sworn by
the LORD that we will not give
them of our daughters to wives?
What should we do about wives for
the survivors, since we have
sworn by
the LORD not to give
them our daughters in marriage?”
And
they said, What one is
there of
the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to
the LORD? And, behold,
there came none to
the camp from
Jabesh-
gilead to
the assembly.
So
they asked, “Which one of
the tribes of Israel failed to come up before
the LORD at
Mizpah?” And, in fact, no one from
Jabesh-
gilead had come to
the camp for
the assembly.
For
the people were numbered, and, behold,
there were none of
the inhabitants of
Jabesh-
gilead there.
For when
the people were counted, none of
the residents of
Jabesh-
gilead were
there.
And
the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of
the valiantest, and commanded
them, saying, Go and
smite the inhabitants of
Jabesh-
gilead with
the edge of
the sword, with
the women and
the children.
So
the congregation sent 12,000 of
their most
valiant men and commanded
them: “Go and put to
the sword those living in
Jabesh-
gilead, including women and children.
And this is
the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath
lain by man.
This is what you are to do:
Devote to destruction every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.”
And
they found among
the inhabitants of
Jabesh-
gilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and
they brought
them unto
the camp to
Shiloh, which is in
the land of
Canaan.
So
they found among
the inhabitants of
Jabesh-
gilead four hundred young women who had not had relations with a man, and
they brought
them to
the camp at
Shiloh in
the land of
Canaan.
And
the whole congregation sent some to speak to
the children of Benjamin that were in
the rock
Rimmon, and to call
peaceably unto
them.
Then the whole congregation sent a message of peace to
the Benjamites who were at
the rock of
Rimmon.
And Benjamin came again at that time; and
they gave
them wives which
they had saved alive of
the women of
Jabesh-
gilead: and yet so
they sufficed
them not.
And at that time
the Benjamites returned and were given
the women who were
spared from
Jabesh-
gilead. But
there were not enough women for all of
them.
And
the people
repented them for Benjamin, because that
the LORD had made a breach in
the tribes of Israel.
The people
grieved for Benjamin, because
the LORD had made a void in
the tribes of Israel.
