Judges 21

1Now the children of Israel had also sworn in Maspha, saying: None of us shall give of his daughters to the children of Benjamin to wife.

2And they all came to the house of God in Silo, and sitting before him till the evening, lifted up their voices, and began to lament and weep, saying:

3O Lord God of Israel, why is so great an evil come to pass in thy people, that this day one tribe should be taken away from among us?

4And rising early the next day, they built an altar: and offered there holocausts, and victims of peace, and they said:

5Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the army of the Lord? for they had bound themselves with a great oath, when they were in Maspha, that whosoever were wanting should be slain.

6And the children of Israel being moved with repentance for their brother Benjamin, began to say: One tribe is taken away from Israel.

7Whence shall they take wives? For we have all in general sworn, not to give our daughters to them.

8Therefore they said: Who is there of all the tribes of Israel, that came not up to the Lord to Maspha? And, behold, the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad were found not to have been in that army.

9(At that time also when they were in Silo, no one of them was found there),

10So they sent ten thousand of the most valiant men, and commanded them, saying: Go and put the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad to the sword, with their wives and their children.

11And this is what you shall observe: Every male, and all women that have known men, you shall kill, but the virgins you shall save.

12And there were found of Jabes Galaad four hundred virgins, that had not known the bed of a man, and they brought them to the camp in Silo, into the land of Chanaan.

13And they sent messengers to the children of Benjamin, that were in the rock Remmon, and commanded them to receive them in peace.

14And the children of Benjamin came at that time, and wives were given them of Jabes Galaad: but they found no others, whom they might give in like manner.

15And all Israel was very sorry, and repented for the destroying of one tribe out of Israel.

16And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead.

17And we must use all care, and provide with great diligence, that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

18For as to our own daughters we cannot give them, being bound with an oath and a curse, whereby we said: Cursed be he that shall give Benjamin any of his daughters to wife.

19So they took counsel, and said: Behold, there is a yearly solemnity of the Lord in Silo, which is situate on the north of the city of Bethel, and on the east side of the way, that goeth from Bethel to Sichem, and on the south of the town of Lebona.

20And they commanded the children of Benjamin and said: Go, and lie hid in the vineyards,

21And when you shall see the daughters of Silo come out, as the custom is, to dance, come ye on a sudden out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife among them, and go into the land of Benjamin.

22And when their fathers and their brethren shall come, and shall begin to complain against you, and to chide, we will say to them: Have pity on them: for they took them not away as by the right of war or conquest, but when they asked to have them, you gave them not, and the fault was committed on your part.

23And the children of Benjamin did as they had been commanded: and, according to their number, they carried off for themselves every man his wife of them that were dancing: and they went into their possession, and built up their cities, and dwelt in them.

24The children of Israel also returned by their tribes, and families, to their dwellings. In those days there was no king in Israel: but every one did that which seemed right to himself.

1Juraverunt quoque filii Israël in Maspha, et dixerunt : Nullus nostrum dabit filiis Benjamin de filiabus suis uxorem.

2Veneruntque omnes ad domum Dei in Silo, et in conspectu ejus sedentes usque ad vesperam, levaverunt vocem, et magno ululatu cœperunt flere, dicentes:

3Quare, Domine Deus Israël, factum est hoc malum in populo tuo, ut hodie una tribus auferretur ex nobis?

4Altera autem die diluculo consurgentes, exstruxerunt altare : obtuleruntque ibi holocausta, et pacificas victimas, et dixerunt:

5Quis non ascendit in exercitu Domini de universis tribubus Israël? grandi enim juramento se constrinxerant, cum essent in Maspha, interfici eos qui defuissent.

6Ductique pœnitentia filii Israël super fratre suo Benjamin, cœperunt dicere : Ablata est tribus una de Israël:

7unde uxores accipient? omnes enim in commune juravimus, non daturos nos his filias nostras.

8Idcirco dixerunt : Quis est de universis tribubus Israël, qui non ascendit ad Dominum in Maspha? Et ecce inventi sunt habitatores Jabes Galaad in illo exercitu non fuisse.

9(Eo quoque tempore cum essent in Silo, nullus ex eis ibi repertus est.)

10Miserunt itaque decem millia viros robustissimos, et præceperunt eis : Ite, et percutite habitatores Jabes Galaad in ore gladii, tam uxores quam parvulos eorum.

11Et hoc erit quod observare debebitis : omne generis masculini, et mulieres quæ cognoverunt viros, interficite; virgines autem reservate.

12Inventæque sunt de Jabes Galaad quadringentæ virgines, quæ nescierunt viri thorum : et adduxerunt eas ad castra in Silo, in terram Chanaan.

13Miseruntque nuntios ad filios Benjamin, qui erant in petra Remmon, et præceperunt eis, ut eos susciperent in pace.

14Veneruntque filii Benjamin in illo tempore, et datæ sunt eis uxores de filiabus Jabes Galaad : alias autem non repererunt, quas simili modo traderent.

15Universusque Israël valde doluit, et egit pœnitentiam super interfectione unius tribus ex Israël.

16Dixeruntque majores natu : Quid faciemus reliquis, qui non acceperunt uxores? omnes in Benjamin feminæ conciderunt,

17et magna nobis cura, ingentique studio providendum est, ne una tribus deleatur ex Israël.

18Filias enim nostras eis dare non possumus, constricti juramento et maledictione qua diximus : Maledictus qui dederit de filiabus suis uxorem Benjamin.

19Ceperuntque consilium, atque dixerunt : Ecce solemnitas Domini est in Silo anniversaria, quæ sita est ad septentrionem urbis Bethel, et ad orientalem plagam viæ, quæ de Bethel tendit ad Sichimam, et ad meridiem oppidi Lebona.

20Præceperuntque filiis Benjamin, atque dixerunt : Ite, ad latitate in vineis.

21Cumque videritis filias Silo ad ducendos choros ex more procedere, exite repente de vineis, et rapite ex eis singuli uxores singulas, et pergite in terram Benjamin.

22Cumque venerint patres earum, ac fratres, et adversum vos queri cœperint atque jurgari, dicemus eis : Miseremini eorum : non enim rapuerunt eas jure bellantium atque victorum : sed rogantibus ut acciperent, non dedistis, et a vestra parte peccatum est.

23Feceruntque filii Benjamin ut sibi fuerat imperatum : et juxta numerum suum, rapuerunt sibi de his quæ ducebant choros, uxores singulas : abieruntque in possessionem suam ædificantes urbes, et habitantes in eis.

24Filii quoque Israël reversi sunt per tribus et familias in tabernacula sua. In diebus illis non erat rex in Israël : sed unusquisque quod sibi rectum videbatur, hoc faciebat.

1καὶ ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ ὤμοσεν ἐν Μασσηφα λέγων ἀνὴρ ἐξ ἡμῶν οὐ δώσει τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ τῷ Βενιαμιν εἰς γυναῖκα

2καὶ παρεγένοντο πᾶς ὁ λαὸς εἰς Μασσηφα καὶ Βαιθηλ καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐκεῖ ἕως ἑσπέρας ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπῆραν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν καὶ ἔκλαυσαν κλαυθμὸν μέγαν

3καὶ εἶπαν ἵνα τί κύριε ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ἐγενήθη αὕτη ἐν τῷ Ισραηλ τοῦ ἐπισκεπῆναι σήμερον ἐν τῷ Ισραηλ φυλὴν μίαν

4καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἐπαύριον καὶ ὤρθρισεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον καὶ ἀνήνεγκαν ὁλοκαυτώματα σωτηρίου

5καὶ εἶπαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τίς ὁ μὴ ἀναβὰς ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐκ πασῶν φυλῶν Ισραηλ πρὸς κύριον ὅτι ὅρκος μέγας ἦν τῷ μὴ ἀναβάντι πρὸς κύριον εἰς Μασσηφα λέγοντες θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῖται

6καὶ παρεκλήθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ περὶ Βενιαμιν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπαν ἀφῄρηται σήμερον φυλὴ μία ἐξ Ισραηλ

7τί ποιήσωμεν αὐτοῖς τοῖς ὑπολειφθεῖσιν εἰς γυναῖκας καὶ ἡμεῖς ὠμόσαμεν ἐν κυρίῳ τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων ἡμῶν εἰς γυναῖκας

8καὶ εἶπαν τίς μία τῶν φυλῶν Ισραηλ ἥτις οὐκ ἀνέβη πρὸς κύριον εἰς Μασσηφα καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν ἀπὸ Ιαβις Γαλααδ εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν

9καὶ ἐπεσκέπη ὁ λαός καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκεῖ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ τῶν κατοικούντων Ιαβις Γαλααδ

10καὶ ἀπέστειλαν ἐκεῖ ἡ συναγωγὴ δώδεκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν τῆς δυνάμεως καὶ ἐνετείλαντο αὐτοῖς λέγοντες πορεύθητε καὶ πατάξατε πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Ιαβις Γαλααδ ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ τὸν λαόν

11καὶ οὗτος ὁ λόγος ὃν ποιήσετε πᾶν ἀρσενικὸν καὶ πᾶσαν γυναῖκα γινώσκουσαν κοίτην ἄρσενος ἀναθεματιεῖτε

12καὶ εὗρον ἀπὸ τῶν κατοικούντων Ιαβις Γαλααδ τετρακοσίας νεάνιδας παρθένους αἳ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἄνδρα εἰς κοίτην ἄρσενος καὶ ἦγον αὐτὰς εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν εἰς Σηλω ἥ ἐστιν ἐν γῇ Χανααν

13καὶ ἀπέστειλεν πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ καὶ ἐλάλησαν πρὸς Βενιαμιν τὸν ἐν τῇ πέτρᾳ Ρεμμων καὶ ἐκάλεσαν αὐτοὺς εἰς εἰρήνην

14καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν Βενιαμιν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ καὶ ἔδωκαν αὐτοῖς τὰς γυναῖκας αἵτινες ἦσαν ἐκ τῶν γυναικῶν Ιαβις Γαλααδ καὶ ἤρεσεν αὐτοῖς οὕτως

15καὶ ὁ λαὸς παρεκλήθη τῷ Βενιαμιν ὅτι ἐποίησεν κύριος διακοπὴν ἐν ταῖς φυλαῖς Ισραηλ

16καὶ εἶπαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῆς συναγωγῆς τί ποιήσωμεν τοῖς ἐπιλοίποις εἰς γυναῖκας ὅτι ἠφάνισται ἐκ τοῦ Βενιαμιν γυνή

17καὶ εἶπαν κληρονομία διασεσῳσμένη τῷ Βενιαμιν καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξαλειφθῇ φυλὴ ἐξ Ισραηλ

18καὶ ἡμεῖς οὐ δυνησόμεθα δοῦναι αὐτοῖς γυναῖκας ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων ἡμῶν ὅτι ὠμόσαμεν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ λέγοντες ἐπικατάρατος ὁ διδοὺς γυναῖκα τῷ Βενιαμιν

19καὶ εἶπαν ἑορτὴ τῷ κυρίῳ ἐν Σηλω ἀφ' ἡμερῶν εἰς ἡμέρας ἥ ἐστιν ἀπὸ βορρᾶ τῆς Βαιθηλ κατ' ἀνατολὰς ἡλίου ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ τῇ ἀναβαινούσῃ ἐκ Βαιθηλ εἰς Σικιμα καὶ ἀπὸ νότου τοῦ Λιβάνου τῆς Λεβωνα

20καὶ ἐνετείλαντο τοῖς υἱοῖς Βενιαμιν λέγοντες διέλθατε καὶ ἐνεδρεύσατε ἐν τοῖς ἀμπελῶσιν

21καὶ ὄψεσθε καὶ ἰδοὺ ὡς ἂν ἐξέλθωσιν αἱ θυγατέρες τῶν κατοικούντων Σηλω ἐν Σηλω χορεῦσαι ἐν χοροῖς καὶ ἐξελεύσεσθε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀμπελώνων καὶ ἁρπάσετε ἀνὴρ ἑαυτῷ γυναῖκα ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων Σηλω καὶ ἀπελεύσεσθε εἰς γῆν Βενιαμιν

22καὶ ἔσται ὅταν ἔλθωσιν οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν ἢ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν κρίνεσθαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐροῦμεν πρὸς αὐτούς ἐλεήσατε αὐτούς ὅτι οὐκ ἔλαβον ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ οὐ γὰρ ὑμεῖς δεδώκατε αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν ἐπλημμελήσατε

23καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως οἱ υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν καὶ ἔλαβον γυναῖκας κατὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῶν χορευουσῶν ἃς διήρπασαν καὶ ἀπῆλθον καὶ ἀπέστρεψαν ἐπὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτῶν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν ἑαυτοῖς πόλεις καὶ κατῴκησαν ἐν αὐταῖς

24καὶ περιεπάτησαν ἐκεῖθεν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἀνὴρ εἰς τὴν φυλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς τὴν συγγένειαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπῆλθον ἐκεῖθεν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ

25ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ ἀνὴρ ἕκαστος τὸ εὐθὲς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ ἐποίει