< Judges 21 >
1 Now 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.
以色列人曾在米茲帕起誓說:「我們中誰也不可把自己的女兒嫁給本雅明人為妻。」
2 And they all came to the house of God in Silo, and abiding before him till the evening, lifted up their voices, and began to lament and weep, saying:
民眾來到貝特耳,在天主面前,坐在那裏,放聲大哭,直到晚上;
3 O 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?
然後說:「上主以色列的天主! 為什麼在以色列中間發生了這事,今日竟使以色列中少了一支派﹖」
4 And rising early the next day, they built an altar: and offered there holocausts, and victims of peace, and they said:
次日,百姓一早起來,在那裏築了一座祭壇,獻了全燔祭與和平祭。
5 Who 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.
以後,以色列子民問說:「以色列眾支派中,有誰沒有上到上主面前,參加集會呢﹖」因為他們先前對於那些凡不上米茲帕到上主面前來的人,曾發過嚴誓說:「死無赦! 」
6 And the children of Israel being moved with repentance for their brother Benjamin, began to say: One tribe is taken away from Israel.
以色列子民對他們的弟兄本雅明起了憐憫之心說:「今天以色列絕了一支派。
7 Whence shall they take wives? For we have all in general sworn, not to give our daughters to them.
我們曾指著上主起過誓,決不將我們的女兒給他們為妻,那麼,我們怎樣給所剩下的人娶妻呢﹖」
8 Therefore they said: Who is thereof 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.
他們又問說:「以色列眾支派中,有那一支派沒有上米茲帕來到上主面前呢﹖」看,由基肋阿得雅貝士中沒有一人入營,參加集會。
9 (At that time also when they were in Silo, no one of them was found there.)
的確,檢閱百姓的時候,沒有一個基肋阿得雅貝士的居民在場。
10 So 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.
因此會眾打發一萬二千勇士到那裏去,吩咐他們說:「你們去用刀屠殺基肋阿得雅貝士的居民,連婦女孩子都在內。
11 And this is what you shall observe: Every male, and all women that have known men, you shall kill, but the virgins you shall save.
你們要這樣作;所以男子和與男子同過房的婦女,盡行殺掉,但要保留處女。」他們就這樣作了。
12 And 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 Silo, into the land of Chanaan.
他們在基肋阿得雅貝士居民中,尋得了四百個未曾認識過男子,也未曾與男子同過房的少年處女,就把她們帶到客納罕地史羅營裏。
13 And they sent messengers to the children of Benjamin, that were in the rock Remmon, and commanded them to receive them in peace.
全會眾又打發人往黎孟岩石去,與住在那裏的本雅明子孫談判,與他們講和。
14 And the children of Benjamin came at that time, and wives were given them of the daughters of Jabes Galaad: but they found no others, whom they might give in like manner.
本雅明子孫當時就回來了,會眾就把基肋阿得雅貝士女子中所保留的少女,給他們為妻,但是數目不足。史羅搶妻
15 And all Israel was very sorry, and repented for the destroying of one tribe out of Israel.
民眾仍為本雅明人傷心難過,因為上主使以色列支派中有了缺陷。
16 And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead.
會中的長老說:「本雅明的婦女既然都消滅了,我們怎樣給所剩下的人娶妻呢﹖」
17 And we must use all care, and provide with great diligence, that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
又說:「本雅民的遺民該有承嗣,免得以色列中泯沒一支。
18 For 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.
但是,我們不能將自己的女兒給他們為妻,因為以色列曾起誓說:誰把女兒給本雅明人是可詛咒的! 」
19 So 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.
有人說:「看,年年在史羅舉行上主的慶節。」─使羅位於貝特耳之北,貝特耳至舍根大路之東,肋波納之南。
20 And they commanded the children of Benjamin, and said: Go, and lie hid in the vineyards,
於是他們給本雅明子孫出主意說:「你們往葡萄園去,藏在那裏。
21 And 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.
等到你們看見史羅的童女出來列隊跳舞,你們就從葡萄園中出來,從史羅的女兒中,各搶一個為妻,然後回本雅明地方去。
22 And 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.
她們的父親或兄弟若是出來與我們爭論,我們就說:求你們看我們的情面,恩待這些人,因為他們戰場上沒有得到女子為妻;況且又不是你們將女兒交給他們;若是你們給的,那就有罪了。」
23 And 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.
本雅明子孫就這樣作了:按數目搶跳舞的女子,各娶一個為妻;以後他們就走了,回到自己的地業,重建城邑,住在那裏。
24 The children of Israel also returned by their tribes, and families, to their dwellings.
以後以色列子民從那裏各回自己的支派和家族,從那裏各回自己的家鄉。
25 In those days there was no king in Israel: but every one did that which seemed right to himself.
那時,在以色列沒有君王,各人任意行事。