Judges 20
1 And so all the sons of Israel went out like one man, from Dan to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, and they gathered together, before the Lord, at Mizpah.
Entonces salieron todos los hijos de Israel, desde Dan hasta Bersabee, incluso los de la tierra de Galaad, y se reunieron como un solo hombre delante de Yahvé en Masfá.
2 And all the chiefs of the people, and every tribe of Israel, convened as an assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers for battle.
Se presentaron los jefes de todo el pueblo, de todas las tribus de Israel, en la asamblea del pueblo de Dios, cuatrocientos mil hombres de a pie, armados de espada.
3 (But it was not hidden from the sons of Benjamin that the sons of Israel had ascended to Mizpah.) And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was killed, being questioned as to how so great a crime had been perpetrated,
Los hijos de Benjamín supieron que los hijos de Israel habían subido a Masfá. Preguntaron los hijos de Israel: “¿Podemos saber cómo fue perpetrada esta maldad?”
4 responded: “I went to Gibeah of Benjamin, with my wife, and I diverted to that place.
Entonces el levita, marido de la mujer muerta, tomó la palabra y dijo: “Llegué yo con mi mujer secundaria a Gabaá, de Benjamín, para pasar la noche;
5 And behold, the men of that city, at night, surrounded the house in which I was staying, intending to kill me. And they abused my wife with such an incredible fury of lust that in the end she died.
y se levantaron contra mí los vecinos de Gabaá, me cercaron durante la noche en la casa con intención de matarme, y abusaron de mi mujer secundaria, de modo que murió.
6 And taking her up, I cut her into pieces, and I sent the parts into all the borders of your possession. For never before was such a nefarious crime, and so great a sin, committed in Israel.
Por tanto eché mano de mi segunda mujer, la dividí en trozos, y la envié por todo el país de la herencia de Israel, por cuanto han cometido un crimen y una infamia en Israel.
7 You are all present here, O sons of Israel. Discern what you ought to do.”
He aquí que todos vosotros sois hijos de Israel; dad vuestro parecer y decidid aquí mismo.”
8 And all the people, standing, responded as if with the word of one man: “We shall not return to our own tents, nor shall anyone enter into his own house.
Entonces todo el pueblo se levantó como un solo hombre, y dijo: “Ninguno vuelva a su tienda, ni regrese nadie a su casa.
9 But this we shall do in common against Gibeah:
Lo que ahora tenemos que hacer a Gabaá es esto: (Iremos) contra ella por sorteo;
10 We shall select ten men out of one hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred out of one thousand, and one thousand out of ten thousand, so that they may transport supplies for the army, and so that we will be able to fight against Gibeah of Benjamin, and to repay it for its crime as it deserves.”
tomaremos de entre todas las tribus de Israel diez hombres por cada ciento, ciento por cada mil, y mil por cada diez mil, que busquen víveres para el ejército y cuando ellos vuelvan, hagamos contra Gabaá de Benjamín conforme a la infamia que ha cometido en Israel.”
11 And all of Israel convened against the city, like one man, with one mind and one counsel.
Se juntaron todos los israelitas, contra la ciudad, unidos como un solo hombre.
12 And they sent messengers to the entire tribe of Benjamin, who said: “Why has so great a wickedness been found among you?
Luego las tribus de Israel enviaron hombres a todas las familias de Benjamín que dijeran: “¿Qué maldad es esta que se ha cometido entre vosotros?
13 Deliver the men of Gibeah, who have perpetrated this deplorable act, so that they may die, and so that the evil may be taken away from Israel.” And they were not willing to listen to the command of their brothers, the sons of Israel.
Entregad ahora a aquellos hijos de Belial, que están en Gabaá, para que les demos muerte y así extirpemos el mal de en medio de Israel.” Pero los hijos de Benjamín no quisieron escuchar la voz de sus hermanos, los hijos de Israel;
14 Instead, out of all the cities that were their lot, they convened at Gibeah, so that they might bring them assistance, and so that they might contend against the entire people of Israel.
sino que de las (demás) ciudades acudieron a Gabaá, para comenzar la guerra contra los hijos de Israel.
15 And there were found from Benjamin twenty-five thousand who drew the sword, aside from the inhabitants of Gibeah,
Se contaron en aquel día veinte y seis mil benjaminitas armados de espada que habían venido de sus ciudades, sin contar los habitantes de Gabaá, de los cuales se alistaron setecientos hombres escogidos.
16 who were seven hundred very strong men, fighting with the left hand as well as with the right hand, and casting stones from a sling so accurately that they were able to strike even a hair, and the path of the stone would by no means miss to either side.
Entre toda esta gente había setecientos hombres escogidos, zurdos; todos capaces de tirar piedras con la honda contra un cabello sin errar el blanco.
17 Then too, among the men of Israel apart from the sons of Benjamin, there were found four hundred thousand who drew the sword and who were prepared for battle.
Entre los hijos de Israel, fuera de Benjamín, se contaron cuatrocientos mil hombres armados de espada, todos hombres aguerridos.
18 And they rose up and went to the house of God, that is, to Shiloh. And they consulted God, and they said, “Who shall be, in our army, the first to contend against the sons of Benjamin?” And the Lord responded to them, “Let Judah be your leader.”
Se levantaron y subieron a Betel, para consultar a Dios. Preguntaron los hijos de Israel: “¿Quién de nosotros subirá primero para hacer la guerra contra los hijos de Benjamín?” Respondió Yahvé: “Judá será el primero.”
19 And immediately the sons of Israel, rising up in the morning, made camp near Gibeah.
Se levantaron entonces los hijos de Israel a la mañana y acamparon frente a Gabaá.
20 And setting out from there to fight against Benjamin, they began to assault the city.
Y salieron los hombres de Israel a dar batalla a Benjamín, tomando posición contra ellos cerca de Gabaá.
21 And the sons of Benjamin, departing from Gibeah, slew twenty-two thousand men from the sons of Israel, on that day.
Pero los hombres de Benjamín hicieron una salida desde la ciudad, y derribaron por tierra en aquel día veinte y dos mil hombres de los israelitas.
22 Again the sons of Israel, trusting in both strength and number, set their troops in order, in the same place where they had contended before.
Sin embargo, los hombres de Israel recobraron su vigor y volvieron a ponerse en orden de batalla en el mismo sitio donde se habían ordenado el primer día.
23 But first they also went up and wept before the Lord, even until night. And they consulted him and said, “Should I continue to go forth, so as to contend against the sons of Benjamin, my brothers, or not?” And he responded to them, “Ascend against them, and undertake the struggle.”
Además, los hijos de Israel subieron y lloraron delante de Yahvé hasta la tarde; y consultaron a Yahvé, diciendo: “¿He de presentarme de nuevo en batalla a los hijos de Benjamín mi hermano?” Respondió Yahvé: “Subid contra él.”
24 And when the sons of Israel had continued to do battle against the sons of Benjamin on the next day,
Se acercaron los hijos de Israel a los hijos de Benjamín también el segundo día.
25 the sons of Benjamin burst forth from the gates of Gibeah. And meeting them, they made such a frenzied slaughter against them that they struck down eighteen thousand men who drew the sword.
Pero Benjamín hizo también el segundo día una salida contra ellos desde Gabaá, y derribaron otros diez y ocho mil de los hijos de Israel, todos ellos armados de espada.
26 As a result, all the sons of Israel went to the house of God, and sitting down, they wept before the Lord. And they fasted that day until evening, and they offered to him holocausts and victims of peace offerings.
Por eso todos los hijos de Israel, y todo el pueblo, subieron y vinieron a Betel, donde permanecieron llorando delante de Yahvé. Ayunaron aquel día hasta la tarde y ofrecieron holocaustos y hostias pacíficas ante Yahvé.
27 And they inquired about their state. At that time, the ark of the covenant of the Lord was in that place.
Y consultaron los hijos de Israel a Yahvé —pues en aquellos días estaba allí el Arca de la Alianza de Dios,
28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was the first ruler of the house. And so, they consulted the Lord, and they said, “Should we continue to go forth in battle against the sons of Benjamin, our brothers, or should we cease?” And the Lord said to them: “Ascend. For tomorrow, I will deliver them into your hands.”
y Finés, hijo de Eleazar, hijo de Aarón, desempeñaba en aquel tiempo el servicio de Yahvé— diciendo: “¿Marcharé otra vez para dar batalla a los hijos de Benjamín, mi hermano, o cesaré?” Respondió Yahvé: “Sube, que mañana le entregaré en tu mano.”
29 And the sons of Israel stationed ambushes around the city of Gibeah.
Entonces Israel puso una emboscada alrededor de Gabaá,
30 And they brought out their army against Benjamin a third time, just as they had done on the first and second times.
y al tercer día subieron los hijos de Israel contra los hijos de Benjamín, y se pusieron en orden de batalla contra Gabaá, como las otras veces.
31 But the sons of Benjamin again burst forth boldly from the city. And since their enemies were fleeing, they pursued them a long way, so that they might wound or kill some of them, just as they had done on the first and second days. And they turned their backs along two paths, one bringing them toward Bethel, and the other toward Gibeah. And they struck down about thirty men.
Los hijos de Benjamín salieron contra el pueblo, y alejados ya de la ciudad, comenzaron a hacer estragos entre el pueblo, como las veces anteriores, en los caminos, de los cuales uno sube a Betel, y el otro a Gabaá. Así dieron muerte en el campo a unos treinta hombres de Israel.
32 For they thought that they were falling back as they had done before. But instead, skillfully feigning flight, they undertook a plan to draw them away from the city, and by seeming to flee, to lead them along the above stated paths.
Y se decían los hijos de Benjamín: “Están derrotados ante nosotros como anteriormente”, en tanto que los hijos de Israel decían: “Huyamos y alejémoslos de la ciudad hacia estos caminos.”
33 And so all the sons of Israel, rising up from their positions, set their troops in order, in the place which is called Baaltamar. Likewise, the ambushes that encircled the city began, little by little, to reveal themselves,
Entonces todos los hombres de Israel levantándose de sus puestos, se ordenaron en batalla en Baaltamar; también los israelitas de la emboscada se lanzaron fuera de sus posiciones, desde la llanura de Gabaá.
34 and to advance upon the western part of the city. Moreover, another ten thousand men from all of Israel were provoking a conflict with the inhabitants of the city. And the war grew heavy against the sons of Benjamin. And they did not realize that, on all sides of them, death was imminent.
Vinieron así contra Gabaá diez mil hombres escogidos de todo Israel, y la batalla fue recia, mas (los de Benjamín) no advirtieron que ya les alcanzaba el mal.
35 And the Lord struck them down in the sight of the sons of Israel, and they put to death, on that day, twenty-five thousand of them, along with one hundred men, all warriors and those who drew the sword.
Así derrotó Yahvé a Benjamín ante Israel, pues los hijos de Israel mataron en aquel día veinte y cinco mil cien hombres de Benjamín, todos armados de espada.
36 But the sons of Benjamin, when they had seen themselves to be the weaker, began to flee. And the sons of Israel discerning this, gave them room to flee, so that they might arrive at the ambushes that were prepared, which they had positioned near the city.
Se vieron, pues, derrotados los hijos de Benjamín, porque los hijos de Israel cedieron terreno a Benjamín, fiándose de la emboscada que habían tendido contra Gabaá.
37 And after they had risen up suddenly from hiding, and those of Benjamin had turned their backs to those who cut them down, they entered the city, and they struck it with the edge of the sword.
Efectivamente los emboscados se arrojaron sobre Gabaá con toda rapidez, y avanzando pasaron toda la ciudad a filo de espada.
38 Now the sons of Israel had given a sign to those whom they had stationed in ambushes, so that, after they had seized the city, they would light a fire, and by the smoke ascending on high, they would show that the city was captured.
Habían convenido los hijos de Israel con los de la emboscada en que estos hiciesen subir desde la ciudad una gran humareda.
39 And then, the sons of Israel discerned this sign during the battle (for the sons of Benjamin had thought that they fled, and they pursued them forcefully, cutting down thirty men from their army).
Así cuando los hombres de Israel volvieron las espaldas en la batalla, y Benjamín hubo comenzado a matar entre los hombres de Israel unos treinta hombres —pues se decían: “están completamente derrotados ante nosotros como en la primera batalla”—
40 And they saw something like a pillar of smoke ascending from the city. Likewise, Benjamin, looking back, discerned that the city was captured, for the flames were being carried on high.
empezó a elevarse desde la ciudad la columna de humo; de manera que cuando los benjaminitas miraron hacia atrás, vieron que de toda la ciudad subía fuego al cielo.
41 And those who before had pretended to flee, turning their faces, withstood them more strongly. And when the sons of Benjamin had seen this, they turned their backs in flight,
Entretanto los hombres de Israel les dieron la cara, y los benjaminitas vieron aterrados que les había alcanzado el mal.
42 and they began to go toward the way of the desert, with the adversary pursuing them to that place also. Moreover, those who had set fire to the city also met them.
Volvieron las espaldas ante los hombres de Israel, tomando el camino del desierto; pero la batalla los alcanzó, y los que salían de la ciudad fueron matados, pues estaban encerrados por ambos lados.
43 And so it happened that they were cut down on both sides by the enemies, nor was there any respite for the dying. They were killed and struck down on the eastern side of the city of Gibeah.
Cercando a los benjaminitas los persiguieron y los exterminaron en los refugios hasta enfrente de Gabaá, por la parte oriental.
44 Now those who were put to death in the same place were eighteen thousand men, all very robust fighters.
Y cayeron de Benjamín diez y ocho mil hombres, todos ellos hombres valientes.
45 And when those who remained of Benjamin had seen this, they fled into the wilderness. And they were traveling toward the rock which is called Rimmon. In that flight also, among those who were scattering in different directions, they slew five thousand men. And though they scattered all the more, they continued to pursue them, and then they put to death another two thousand.
Los restantes volvieron las espaldas y huyeron camino del desierto, hacia la peña de Remmón. Mas (los de Israel) hicieron entre ellos una rebusca matando a cinco mil hombres en los caminos. Y siguiendo en su alcance hasta Gidom mataron de ellos dos mil hombres más.
46 And so it happened that all of those who were slain from Benjamin, in various places, were twenty-five thousand fighters, very willing to go to war.
Ascendieron las bajas de Benjamín en aquel día a veinte y cinco mil hombres de guerra, todos ellos hombres valientes.
47 And so there remained from the entire number of Benjamin six hundred men who were able to escape and to flee into the wilderness. And they settled at the rock of Rimmon, for four months.
Solo los seiscientos hombres que habían vuelto las espaldas, lograron escaparse al desierto, a la peña de Remmón, donde permanecieron durante cuatro meses.
48 But the sons of Israel, returning, had struck with the sword all that remained in the city, from men even to cattle. And all the cities and villages of Benjamin were consumed with devouring flames.
Luego los hombres de Israel se volvieron contra (el resto de) los hijos de Benjamín, y los pasaron a filo de espada, así las ciudades, hombres y bestias, como todo lo que hallaron. Y pegaron fuego a todas las ciudades que encontraron.
