Liber Iudicum, 21

1. Iuraverunt autem filii Israel in Maspha et dixerunt: “Nullus nostrum dabit filiis Beniamin de filiabus suis uxorem”.

1. Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin."

2. Venitque populus in Bethel, et in conspectu Dei sedentes usque ad vesperam levaverunt vocem et magno ululatu coeperunt flere dicentes:

2. And the people came to Bethel, and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.

3. “Quare, Domine, Deus Israel, factum est hoc in populo tuo, ut hodie una tribus auferretur de Israel?”.

3. And they said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, why has this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?"

4. Altera autem die diluculo consurgentes exstruxerunt altare obtuleruntque ibi holocausta et pacificas victimas

4. And on the morrow the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5. et dixerunt: “Quis non ascendit in congregationem ad Dominum de universis tribubus Israel?”. Grandi enim se iuramento constrinxerant interfici eos, qui non ascendissent ad Dominum in Maspha.

5. And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah, saying, "He shall be put to death."

6. Ductique paenitentia filii Israel super fratre suo Beniamin coeperunt dicere: “Ablata est hodie una tribus de Israel.

6. And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother, and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel this day.

7. Quid faciemus, ut, qui remanserunt, uxores accipiant? Omnes enim in commune iuravimus per Dominum non daturos nos his filias nostras”.

7. What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?"

8. Idcirco dixerunt: “Quis est de universis tribubus Israel, qui non ascendit ad Dominum in Maspha?”. Et ecce nemo de Iabes Galaad in castra venerat ad congregationem,

8. And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah?" And behold, no one had come to the camp from Ja'besh-gil'ead, to the assembly.

9. et, cum populus recenseretur, nullus ex eis repertus est.

9. For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Ja'besh-gil'ead was there.

10. Misit itaque coetus decem milia viros robustissimos et praeceperunt eis: “Ite et percutite habitatores Iabes Galaad in ore gladii tam uxores quam parvulos eorum.

10. So the congregation sent thither twelve thousand of their bravest men, and commanded them, "Go and smite the inhabitants of Ja'besh-gil'ead with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones.

11. Et hoc erit, quod observare debetis: Omne generis masculini et mulieres, quae cognoverunt viros, interficite; virgines autem reservate”.

11. This is what you shall do; every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall utterly destroy."

12. Inventaeque sunt de Iabes Galaad quadringentae virgines, quae nescierunt viri torum, et adduxerunt eas in castra in Silo in terra Chanaan.

12. And they found among the inhabitants of Ja'besh-gil'ead four hundred young virgins who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

13. Misitque coetus nuntios ad filios Beniamin, qui erant in petra Remmon, et dederunt eis pacem.

13. Then the whole congregation sent word to the Benjaminites who were at the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.

14. Veneruntque filii Beniamin in illo tempore, et datae sunt eis uxores de filiabus Iabes Galaad; alias autem non reppererunt, quas simili modo traderent.

14. And Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Ja'besh-gil'ead; but they did not suffice for them.

15. Populusque valde doluit de Beniamin, quia fecerat Dominus confractionem in tribubus Israel.

15. And the people had compassion on Benjamin because the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

16. Dixeruntque seniores coetus: “Quid faciemus reliquis, qui non acceperunt uxores? Omnes in Beniamin feminae conciderunt”.

16. Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?"

17. Et dixerunt: “Possessio eorum, qui effugerunt, erit Beniamin, ne una tribus deleatur ex Israel.

17. And they said, "There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe be not blotted out from Israel.

18. Filias autem nostras eis dare non possumus, constricti hoc iuramento: “Maledictus, qui dederit de filiabus suis uxorem Beniamin!””.

18. Yet we cannot give them wives of our daughters." For the people of Israel had sworn, "Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin."

19. Ceperuntque consilium atque dixerunt: “Ecce sollemnitas Domini est in Silo anniversaria, quae sita est ad septentrionem urbis Bethel et ad orientalem plagam viae, quae de Bethel tendit ad Sichimam et ad meridiem oppidi Lebona”.

19. So they said, "Behold, there is the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebo'nah."

20. Praeceperuntque filiis Beniamin atque dixerunt: “Ite et latitate in vineis;

20. And they commanded the Benjaminites, saying, "Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,

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

21. and watch; if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and seize each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

22. Cumque venerint patres earum ac fratres et apud nos queri coeperint, dicemus eis: “Miseremini nostri et eorum; non enim acceperunt unusquisque uxorem in bello, et vos, si dedissetis eis, deliquissetis”.

22. And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, `Grant them graciously to us; because we did not take for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.'"

23. Feceruntque filii Beniamin, ut sibi fuerat imperatum, et iuxta numerum suum rapuerunt sibi de his, quae ducebant choros, uxores singulas; abieruntque in possessionem suam aedificantes urbes et habitantes in eis.

23. And the Benjaminites did so, and took their wives, according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried off; then they went and returned to their inheritance, and rebuilt the towns, and dwelt in them.

24. Filii quoque Israel reversi sunt inde illo tempore unusquisque ad tribum et familiam suam in possessionem suam.

24. And the people of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.

25. In diebus illis non erat rex in Israel, sed unusquisque, quod sibi rectum videbatur, hoc faciebat.

25. In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.