Jueces 21
1 Los hombres de Israel habían jurado en Mizpa, diciendo: “Ninguno de nosotros dará su hija a Benjamín como esposa”.
The sons of Israel had also taken an oath at Mizpah, and they said, “None of us shall give his daughters as a wife to the sons of Benjamin.”
2 El pueblo vino a Betel y se sentó allí hasta el atardecer delante de Dios, y alzó la voz y lloró gravemente.
And they all went to the house of God at Shiloh. And sitting in his sight until evening, they lifted up their voice, and they began to weep, with a great wailing, saying,
3 Dijeron: “Yahvé, el Dios de Israel, ¿por qué ha sucedido esto en Israel, que hoy falte una tribu en Israel?”
“Why, O Lord, God of Israel, has this evil happened among your people, so that this day one tribe would be taken away from us?”
4 Al día siguiente, el pueblo se levantó temprano y construyó allí un altar, y ofreció holocaustos y ofrendas de paz.
Then, rising at first light on the next day, they built an altar. And they offered holocausts and victims of peace offerings there, and they said,
5 Los hijos de Israel dijeron: “¿Quién hay de todas las tribus de Israel que no haya subido en la asamblea a Yahvé?” Porque habían hecho un gran juramento con respecto al que no subió a Yahvé a Mizpa, diciendo: “Sin duda será condenado a muerte.”
“Who, out of all the tribes of Israel, did not ascend with the army of the Lord?” For they had bound themselves with a great oath, when they were at Mizpah, that whoever was not present would be slain.
6 Los hijos de Israel se afligieron por Benjamín, su hermano, y dijeron: “Hoy hay una tribu eliminada de Israel.
And the sons of Israel, having been led to repentance over their brother Benjamin, began to say: “One tribe has been taken away from Israel.
7 ¿Cómo proveeremos de esposas a los que queden, ya que hemos jurado por Yahvé que no les daremos de nuestras hijas como esposas?”
From where shall they receive wives? For we have all sworn in common that we will not give our daughters to them.”
8 Dijeron: “¿Qué hay de las tribus de Israel que no haya subido a Yahvé a Mizpa?” He aquí que nadie vino de Jabes de Galaad al campamento a la asamblea.
For this reason, they said, “Who is there, out of all the tribes of Israel, that did not ascend to the Lord at Mizpah?” And behold, the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead were found not to have been among that army.
9 Porque cuando se contó el pueblo, he aquí que no había allí ninguno de los habitantes de Jabes de Galaad.
(Likewise, in the time when they had been at Shiloh, not one of them was found to be there.)
10 La congregación envió allí a doce mil de los hombres más valientes, y les ordenó diciendo: “Vayan y hieran a los habitantes de Jabes de Galaad a filo de espada, con las mujeres y los niños.
And so they sent ten thousand very robust men, and they instructed them, saying, “Go and strike down the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead with the edge of the sword, including their wives and little ones.”
11 Esto es lo que haréis: destruiréis por completo a todo varón y a toda mujer que se haya acostado con un hombre.”
And this shall be what you ought to do: “Every one of the male gender, as well as all the women who have known men, shall be put to death. But the virgins you shall reserve.”
12 Encontraron entre los habitantes de Jabes de Galaad cuatrocientas jóvenes vírgenes que no habían conocido al hombre acostándose con él, y las llevaron al campamento de Silo, que está en la tierra de Canaán.
And four hundred virgins, who had not known the bed of a man, were found from Jabesh-Gilead. And they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, in the land of Canaan.
13 Toda la congregación envió y habló a los hijos de Benjamín que estaban en la roca de Rimón, y les proclamó la paz.
And they sent messengers to the sons of Benjamin, who were at the rock of Rimmon, and they instructed them, so that they would receive them in peace.
14 Benjamín regresó en ese momento, y les dieron las mujeres que habían salvado vivas de las mujeres de Jabes de Galaad. Todavía no había suficientes para ellos.
And the sons of Benjamin went, at that time, and wives were given to them from the daughters of Jabesh-Gilead. But others were not found, whom they might give in a similar manner.
15 El pueblo se afligió por Benjamín, porque el Señor había abierto una brecha en las tribus de Israel.
And all of Israel was very saddened, and they did penance for destroying one tribe out of Israel.
16 Entonces los ancianos de la congregación dijeron: “¿Cómo vamos a proveer de esposas a los que quedan, ya que las mujeres han sido destruidas de Benjamín?”
And those greater by birth said: “What shall we do with the remainder, those who have not received wives? For all the females of Benjamin have been cut down,
17 Dijeron: “Tiene que haber una herencia para los que se han escapado de Benjamín, para que no se borre una tribu de Israel.
and we must take great care, and make provision with a very great diligence, so that one tribe may not be wiped away from Israel.
18 Sin embargo, no podemos darles esposas de nuestras hijas, porque los hijos de Israel habían jurado diciendo: ‘Maldito el que le dé una esposa a Benjamín’.”
As for our own daughters, we are not able to give them, being bound by an oath and a curse, when we said, ‘Accursed is he who will give any of his daughters to Benjamin as a wife.’”
19 Dijeron: “He aquí que hay una fiesta de Yahvé de año en año en Silo, que está al norte de Betel, al este del camino que sube de Betel a Siquem, y al sur de Lebona.”
And they took counsel, and they said, “Behold, there is a yearly solemnity of the Lord at Shiloh, which is situated to the north of the city of Bethel, and on the eastern side of the way that one takes from Bethel to Shechem, and to the south of the town of Lebonah.”
20 Mandaron a los hijos de Benjamín, diciendo: “Vayan y acechen en las viñas,
And they instructed the sons of Benjamin, and they said: “Go, and hide in the vineyards.
21 y vean, y he aquí que si las hijas de Silo salen a bailar en las danzas, salgan de las viñas, y cada uno tome su mujer de las hijas de Silo, y vayan a la tierra de Benjamín.
And when you will have seen daughters of Shiloh being led out to dance, according to custom, go forth suddenly from the vineyards, and let each one seize one wife from among them, and travel into the land of Benjamin.
22 Cuando sus padres o sus hermanos vengan a quejarse ante nosotros, les diremos: “Concédannoslas con gracia, porque no tomamos para cada uno su mujer en la batalla, ni ustedes se las dieron; de lo contrario, ahora serían culpables.”
And when their fathers and brothers arrive, and they begin to complain against you and to argue, we will say to them: ‘Take pity on them. For they have not seized them by right of war or conquest. Instead, begging to receive them, you did not give them, and so the sin was on your part.’”
23 Los hijos de Benjamín lo hicieron así, y tomaron para sí esposas según su número, de las que bailaban, a las que llevaron. Fueron y volvieron a su heredad, edificaron las ciudades y vivieron en ellas.
And so the sons of Benjamin did just as they had been ordered. And according to their number, they seized for themselves one wife each, out of those who were led out dancing. And they went into their own possession, and they built up their cities, and they lived in them.
24 Los hijos de Israel salieron de allí en aquel tiempo, cada uno a su tribu y a su familia, y cada uno salió de allí a su propia herencia.
The sons of Israel also returned, according to their tribes and families, to their tents.
25 En aquellos días no había rey en Israel. Cada uno hacía lo que le parecía correcto.
In those days, there was no king in Israel. Instead, each one did what seemed right to himself.
