< Judges 20 >

1 Then all the children of Israel went out and gathered together as one man from Dan to Bersabee, with the land of Galaad, to the Lord in Maspha:
於是以色列全體子民出動,從丹到貝爾舍巴,以及基肋阿得地,全會眾集合起來好像一個人一樣,來到米茲帕上主面前。
2 And all the chiefs of the people, and all the tribes of Israel met together in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen fit for war.
全民眾,即以色列各支派的首領,都參與天主百姓的集會;拿刀的步兵,共有四十萬。
3 (Nor were the children of Benjamin ignorant that the children of Israel were come up to Maspha.) And the Levite the husband of the woman that was killed, being asked, how so great a wickedness had been committed,
本雅明子孫也聽說以色列子民上到了米茲帕。以色列子民說:「這件惡事是怎樣發生的,請你們述說一遍! 」
4 Answered: I came into Gabaa of Benjamin with my wife, and there I lodged:
那被殺的女子的丈夫肋末人就回答說:「我與我的妾來到屬本雅明的基貝亞,要在那裏過夜,
5 And behold the men of that city in the night beset the house wherein I was, intending to kill me, and abused my wife with an incredible fury of lust, so that at last she died.
基貝亞的公民起來攻擊我,夜間包圍我過夜的住宅,企圖殺害我,並把我的妾強姦致死。
6 And I took her and cut her in pieces, and sent the, parts into all the borders of your possession: because there never was so heinous a crime, and so great an abomination committed in Israel.
因為他們在以色列中間行了這窮兇極惡的醜事,我遂將我的妾切成碎塊,遍送以色列基業各地。
7 You are all here, O children of Israel, determine what you ought to do.
以色列子孫,請你們說出你們的意見和對策。」
8 And all the people standing, answered as by the voice of one man: We will not return to our tents, neither shall any one of us go into his own house:
那時全體民眾好像一個人一樣都起來說:「我們中誰也不要返回自己的帳幕,誰也不要回自己的家,
9 But this we will do in common against Gabaa:
現在我們就要這樣對付基貝亞,抽籤進攻,
10 We will take ten men of a hundred out of all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to bring victuals for the army, that we might fight against Gabaa of Benjamin, and render to it for its wickedness, what it deserveth.
由以色列各支派中,每百人抽十人,每千人抽百人,每萬人抽千人,給民眾運送軍糧;待眾人到達本雅明的基貝亞後,按照那城在以色列中間所行醜事報復它。」
11 And all Israel were gathered together against the city, as one man, with one mind, and one counsel:
於是以色列人聯合起來攻擊那城,彼此合作有如一人。本雅明備戰
12 And they sent messengers to all the tribe of Benjamin to say to them: Why hath so great an abomination been found among you?
以色列眾支派差人往本雅明支派的各家說:「你們中間怎樣發生了這樣的惡事﹖
13 Deliver up the men of Gabaa, that have committed this heinous crime, that they may die, and the evil may be taken away out of Israel. But they would not hearken to the proposition of their brethren the children of Israel:
現在你們把那些人,即基貝亞的無賴之徒,交出來,我們好處死他們,從以色列中鏟除這邪惡。」本雅明子孫卻不肯聽從他兄弟們以色列子民的呼聲;
14 But out of all the cities which were of their lot, they gathered themselves together into Gabaa, to aid them, and to fight against the whole people of Israel.
本雅明子孫反而從各城聚集起來,來到基貝亞,要與以色列子民交戰。
15 And there were found of Benjamin five and twenty thousand men that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gabaa,
那一天,本雅明人從各城來的共計兩萬六千拿刀的,基貝亞的居民尚未計算在內。
16 Who were seven hundred most valiant men, fighting with the left hand as well as with the right: and slinging stones so sure that they could hit even a hair, and not miss by the stone’s going on either side.
在這些人中,還有特選的七百精兵,能左右開弓,個個能用機絃拋石,毫釐不爽。
17 Of the men of Israel also, beside the children of Benjamin, were found four hundred thousand that drew swords, and were prepared to fight.
本雅明人除外,以色列人共有四十萬拿刀的,個個都是戰士。兩次進攻失利
18 And they arose and came to the house of God, that is, to Silo: and they consulted God, and said: Who shall be in our army the first to go to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord answered them: Let Juda be your leader.
以色列子民起身上到貝特耳,求問天主說:「我們中誰該先上去與本雅明子孫作戰﹖」上主答說:「猶大先去。」
19 And forthwith the children of Israel rising in the morning, camped by Gabaa:
於是以色列子明早晨起來,對著基貝亞安營。
20 And going out from thence to fight against Benjamin, began to assault the city.
以色列人出來要與本雅明人交戰,遂在基貝亞前面擺陣等待他們。
21 And the children of Benjamin coming out of Gabaa, slew of the children of Israel that day two and twenty thousand men.
本雅明子孫從基貝亞出來迎戰,那一天殺死了兩萬兩千以色列人。
22 Again Israel trusting in their strength and their number, set their army in array in the same place, where they had fought before:
以後,眾以色列又鼓起勇氣,又在前一日布陣的地方布陣。
23 Yet so that they first went up and wept before the Lord until night: and consulted him, and said: Shall I go out any more to fight against the children of Benjamin my brethren, or not? And he answered them: Go up against them, and join battle.
事前,以色列子民先上到貝特耳,在上主面前哀哭,一直到晚上,然後求問上主說:「我們可否再去與我們的弟兄本雅明交戰﹖」上主答說:「可上去攻打。」
24 And when the children of Israel went out the next day to fight against the children of Benjamin,
於是第二天,以色列子民又去攻打本雅明子孫。
25 The children of Benjamin sallied forth out of the gates of Gabaa: and meeting them made so great a slaughter of them, as to kill eighteen thousand men that drew the sword.
本雅明人第二天也從基貝亞出來與以色列人交戰,又殺死一萬八千以色列子民,都是拿刀的人。
26 Wherefore all the children of Israel came to the house of God, and sat and wept before the Lord: and they fasted that day till the evening, and offered to him holocausts, and victims of peace offerings,
以色列眾子民,即全民眾,又上到貝特耳,坐在上主面前哀哭,整日禁食到晚上;以後,在上主面前獻了全燔祭與和平祭。【
27 And inquired of him concerning their state. At that time the ark of the covenant of the Lord was there,
那時天主的約櫃正在那裏,同時有亞郎的子孫厄肋阿匝爾的兒子丕乃哈斯在約櫃前供職。】以色列子民又求問上主說:「我們是否應再去與我們的弟兄本雅明人交戰﹖或是休戰﹖」上主答說:「你們應上去,因為我明天必將他們交在你們手中。」
28 And Phinees the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron was over the house. So they consulted the Lord and said: Shall we go out any more to fight against the children of Benjamin our brethren, or shall we cease? And the Lord said to them: Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands.
以色列人就在基貝亞四周設下伏兵。
29 And the children of Israel set ambushes round about the city of Gabaa:
第三天以色列子民上去攻打本雅明子孫,在基貝亞對面布陣,像前兩次一樣。
30 And they drew up their army against Benjamin the third time, as they had done the first and second.
本雅明子孫出來迎敵,被引出城外,在兩條大路上,─一條通往貝特耳,一條通往基貝紅,─像前兩次一樣,開始殺敵,在田野就殺死了約有三十個以色列人。
31 And the children of Benjamin boldly issued out of the city, and seeing their enemies flee, pursued them a long way, so as to wound and kill some of them, as they had done the first and second day, whilst they fled by two highways, whereof one goeth up to Bethel, and the other to Gabaa, and they slew about thirty men:
本雅明子孫遂說:「他們像前次一樣,在我們面前打敗了。」但以色列子民卻說:「我們不如後退,引他們遠離城,到大路上來。」
32 For they thought to cut them off, as they did before. But they artfully feigning a flight, designed to draw them away from the city, and by their seeming to flee to bring them to the highways aforesaid.
當以色列眾人從他們的地方起來,在巴耳塔瑪爾布陣的時候,以色列的伏兵從革巴西邊埋伏的地方衝出來;
33 Then all the children of Israel rising up out of the places where they were, set their army in battle array, in the place which is called Baalthamar. The ambushes also which were about the city, began by little and little to come forth,
全以色列中所選出的一萬精兵齊來攻打基貝亞,戰爭非常激烈,但是本雅明人還不知道大禍臨頭。
34 And to march from the west side of the city. And other ten thousand men chosen out of all Israel attacked the inhabitants of the city. And the battle grew hot against the children of Benjamin: and they understood not that present death threatened them on every side.
上主在以色列前打擊本雅明人,那一天以色列子民殺死本雅明人共有二萬五千一百,都是拿刀的人。
35 And the Lord defeated them before the children of Israel, and they slew of them in that day five and twenty thousand, and one hundred, all fighting men and that drew the sword.
這樣,本雅明子孫看出自己失敗。原來以色列人依仗在基貝亞所設下的伏兵,先在本雅明人前退怯;
36 But the children of Benjamin when they saw themselves to be too weak, began to flee. Which the children of Israel seeing, gave them place to flee, that they might come to the ambushes that were prepared, which they had set near the city.
伏兵急速衝入基貝亞,衝進之後,用刀屠殺了全城的人。
37 And they that were in ambush arose on a sudden out of their coverts, and whilst Benjamin turned their backs to the slayers, went into the city, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
原先以色列人與伏兵約定,在城內放火,以煙火上騰為號。
38 Now the children of Israel had given a sign to them, whom they had laid in ambushes, that after they had taken the city, they should make a fire: that by the smoke rising on high, they might shew that the city was taken.
以色列人在戰場上撤退的時候,本雅明動手殺死以色列人約有三十人,他們想:「的確,他們如前一仗一樣,在我們前殺敗了。」
39 And when the children of Israel saw this in the battle (for the children of Benjamin thought they fled and pursued them vigorously, killing thirty men of their army)
當煙柱信號從城中上騰的時候,本雅明人轉過身來,見全城煙火沖天;
40 And perceived as it were a pillar of smoke rise up from the city; and Benjamin looking back, saw that the city was taken, and that the flames ascended on high:
那時以色列人也轉身回來;本雅明人大為驚慌,因為看見大禍臨頭,
41 They that before had made as if they fled, turning their faces stood bravely against them; which the children of Benjamin seeing, turned their backs,
遂在以色列人面前轉向曠野的路上逃去,但戰士卻追蹤而至,從城裏出來的人也夾擊他們;
42 And began to go towards the way of the desert, the enemy pursuing them thither also. And they that fired the city came also out to meet them.
這樣,以色列人擊潰了本雅明人,追擊他們,從諾哈蹂躪他們,直到革巴對面的東方之地。
43 And so it was, that they were slain on both sides by the enemies, and there was no rest of their men dying. They fell and were beaten down on the east side of the city Gabaa.
本雅明人陣亡一萬八千,都是勇士。
44 And they that were slain in the same place were eighteen thousand men, all most valiant soldiers.
其餘的人都轉身向著曠野逃往黎孟岩石,以色列人在路上又掃蕩了他們中五千人;以後,直追到革巴,擊殺了二千人。
45 And when they that remained of Benjamin saw this, they fled into the wilderness and made towards the rock that is called Remmon. In that flight, also as they were straggling and going different ways, they slew of them five thousand men. And as they went farther, they still pursued them, and slew also other two thousand.
那一日,本雅明中陣亡的,共有二萬五千人,
46 And so it came to pass, that all that were slain of Benjamin in divers places, were five and twenty thousand fighting men, most valiant for war.
所剩下的六百人,
47 And there remained of all the number of Benjamin only six hundred men that were able to escape, and flee to the wilderness: and they abode in the rock Remmon four months.
轉身逃往曠野,直到黎孟岩石,在黎孟岩石中住了四個月。
48 But the children of Israel returning, put all the remains of the city to the sword, both men and beasts, and all the cities and villages of Benjamin were consumed with devouring flames.
以色列人又回到本雅明子孫那裏,把各城的人和牲畜,以及所遇見的都用刀殺盡;並將所經過的城池放火燒燬。

< Judges 20 >