Juízes, 20

1. Movimentaram-se, pois, todos os israelitas como um só homem, des­de Dã até Bersabeia, e até a terra de Galaad. E a assembleia reuniu-se diante do Senhor, em Masfa.

1. Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

2. Os chefes de todo o povo e todas as tribos de Israel apresentaram-se diante da assembleia do povo de Deus: havia quatrocentos mil homens de pé, armados com a espada.

2. And the chief of all the people, [even] of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

3. E os filhos de Benjamim souberam que os israe­litas tinham subido a Masfa. Os israelitas disseram: “Dizei-nos de que modo se cometeu esse crime”.

3. (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell [us], how was this wickedness?

4. O levita, marido da mulher que foi morta, tomou a palavra: “Eu cheguei a Gabaá de Benjamim – disse ele – com minha concubi­na para ali passar a noite.

4. And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that [belongeth] to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

5. Os homens de Gabaá, porém, amotinaram-se contra mim e cercaram de noite a casa, querendo matar-me; violentaram a minha concubina e ela morreu.

5. And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, [and] thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

6. Tomei-a então e cortei-a em pedaços e mandei distribuir por todo o território da herança de Israel, porque cometeram uma atrocidade e uma infâmia em Israel.

6. And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

7. Vós todos, ó israelitas que aqui estais, dai o vosso parecer e tomai uma decisão”.

7. Behold, ye [are] all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.

8. Levantou-se então todo o povo como um só homem, dizendo: “Ninguém dentre nós irá à sua tenda e ninguém voltará à sua casa.

8. And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any [of us] go to his tent, neither will we any [of us] turn into his house.

9. Eis o que agora vamos fazer a Gabaá: lancemos a sorte contra ela!

9. But now this [shall be] the thing which we will do to Gibeah; [we will go up] by lot against it;

10. Tomemos dentre todas as tribos de Israel dez homens de cada cem, cem de cada mil e mil de cada dez mil, que irão procurar víveres para o abastecimento do povo. É preciso, quando eles voltarem, tratarmos a Gabaá de Benjamim como ela merece pela infâmia que cometeu em Israel”.

10. And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.

11. Assim se coligou contra a cidade todo o Israel, como se fora um só homem.

11. So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

12. Mandaram mensageiros a todas as famílias de Benjamim, para que lhe dissessem: “Que maldade é essa que se cometeu no meio de vós?

12. And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness [is] this that is done among you?

13. Entregai-nos sem demora os celerados de Gabaá, para que os matemos e tiremos o mal do meio de Israel”. Mas os benjaminitas não quiseram dar ouvidos aos seus irmãos israelitas.

13. Now therefore deliver [us] the men, the children of Belial, which [are] in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:

14. Juntaram-se em Gabaá todas as suas cidades para combater contra os israelitas.

14. But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

15. Contaram-se naquele dia os benjaminitas que acorreram de todas as cidades: vinte e seis mil homens, armados de espada, sem contar os habitantes de Gabaá, que eram setecentos homens de escol.

15. And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

16. Entre todo esse povo havia setecentos homens de escol que não se serviam da mão direita e todos capazes de atirar pedras com a funda num cabelo, sem errar o alvo.

16. Among all this people [there were] seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair [breadth], and not miss.

17. O número de israelitas recenseados, excluindo Benja­mim, era de quatrocentos mil homens armados de espada, todos aptos para o combate.

17. And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these [were] men of war.

18. Os israelitas subiram a Betel para consultar o Senhor; perguntaram: “Quem de nós subirá primeiro para começar a luta contra os benjaminitas?”. O Senhor respondeu-lhes: “Judá será o primeiro a subir”.

18. And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah [shall go up] first.

19. Partiram os israelitas no dia seguinte pela manhã e acamparam perto de Gabaá.

19. And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

20. Começaram o combate contra os filhos de Benjamim e puseram-se em ordem de batalha perto da cidade.

20. And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.

21. Saindo os benjaminitas, infligiram a Israel naquele dia uma perda de vinte e dois mil homens, que juncavam o solo.

21. And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

22. A multidão dos filhos de Israel, recobrando nova coragem, pôs-se outra vez em ordem de batalha no mesmo lugar onde estiveram na véspera.

22. And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.

23. Até a tarde estiveram os filhos de Israel chorando diante do Senhor e o consultaram, dizendo: “Devo continuar ainda a combater contra os filhos de Benjamim, meu irmão?”. O Senhor respondeu: “Marchai contra ele”.

23. (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

24. Os israelitas avançaram pela segunda vez contra os benjaminitas,

24. And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

25. que saíram de Gabaá ao seu encontro e lançaram-nos de novo por terra, matando dezoito mil israelitas, todos homens que manejavam a espada.

25. And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

26. Então, todo o povo dos israelitas subiu a Betel e ali, sentados, lamentavam-se diante do Senhor, jejuando naquele dia até a tarde e ofereceram holocaustos e sacrifícios pacíficos diante do Senhor.

26. Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

27. E consultaram-no. Naquele tempo a arca da aliança de Deus estava lá, com Fineias, filho de Eleazar, filho de Aarão, que se conservava junto dela.

27. And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God [was] there in those days,

28. Disseram, pois: “Devo continuar ou devo cessar a guerra contra Benjamim, meu irmão?”. O Senhor respondeu: “lde, porque amanhã eu os entregarei nas vossas mãos”.

28. And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

29. Israel pôs emboscadas em volta de Gabaá e,

29. And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.

30. ao terceiro dia, recomeçou o combate contra os benjaminitas na mesma ordem de batalha que antes.

30. And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

31. Saindo contra eles, os benjaminitas deixaram-se atrair para longe da cidade e puseram-se, como das outras vezes, a ferir e a matar alguns homens de Israel, uns trinta aproximadamente, nos caminhos que sobem para Betel e para Gabaá, através do campo.

31. And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, [and] were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, [and] kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

32. Os filhos de Benjamim disseram entre si: “Ei-los batidos diante de nós como dantes”. Os filhos de Israel, porém, diziam: “Fujamos e atraiamo-los para longe da cidade por esses caminhos”.

32. And the children of Benjamin said, They [are] smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.

33. Então, saindo todos os israelitas dos seus postos, ordenaram-se em batalha em Baal-Tamar, enquanto os homens de emboscada deixavam os seus esconderijos na planície da Gabaá.

33. And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, [even] out of the meadows of Gibeah.

34. Surgiram assim diante de Gabaá dez mil homens de escol do exército de Israel. A batalha foi rude: mas os benjaminitas não supunham que a derrota ia atingi-los.

34. And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil [was] near them.

35. O Senhor destruiu Benjamim à vista dos filhos de Israel, os quais mataram naquele dia vinte e cinco mil e cem benjaminitas, todos armados de espada.

35. And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.

36. Os filhos de Benjamim foram derrotados. Os israelitas tinham-lhes cedido terreno para fugir, porque confiavam na emboscada que tinham posto junto de Gabaá.*

36. So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

37. Saindo, pois, os homens dessa emboscada, cercaram a cidade e passaram tudo a fio de espada.

37. And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew [themselves] along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

38. Ora, os homens de Israel tinham combinado com os da emboscada que fizessem subir da cidade como sinal uma nuvem de fumo.

38. Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.

39. Os homens de Israel simularam a fuga no combate e Benjamim pôs-se a ferir e a matar cerca de trinta homens, dizendo: “Sem dúvida, estão derrotados diante de nós como no primeiro combate”.

39. And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite [and] kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as [in] the first battle.

40. Mas quando a nuvem de fumo começou a subir da cidade, os benjaminitas olharam para trás e viram o incêndio de Gabaá subir até o céu.

40. But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.

41. Os homens de Israel de­ram volta e os benjaminitas ficaram pasmados ante o desastre que vinha sobre eles.

41. And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.

42. Voltaram as costas diante dos israelitas e tomaram o caminho do deserto; o exército, porém, os perseguiu de per­to e os das cidades foram massacrados cada um em seu próprio lugar.

42. Therefore they turned [their backs] before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which [came] out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.

43. Cercaram os benjami­nitas, os perseguiram e esmagaram em todas as suas paragens até defronte de Gabaá, para as bandas do levante.

43. [Thus] they inclosed the Benjamites round about, [and] chased them, [and] trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.

44. Dessa sorte, caíram dezoito mil valentes guerreiros benja­minitas,

44. And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valour.

45. enquanto o resto se pôs a fugir para o deserto até o rochedo de Remon. Nessa fuga foram ainda mortos cinco mil homens pelos caminhos e, perseguindo-os de perto até Gedeão, mataram ainda dois mil.

45. And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.

46. Naquele dia, foram mortos vinte e cinco mil homens de Benjamim, guerreiros valentes que manejavam a espada.

46. So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valour.

47. Seiscentos homens tinham chegado, em sua fuga para o deserto, ao rochedo de Remon, onde permaneceram por quatro meses.

47. But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.

48. Entrementes, os israelitas tinham-se voltado contra os filhos de Ben­jamim e passaram a fio de espada tudo o que lhes caía nas mãos nas cidades, desde os homens até os animais. Incendiaram também todas as cidades que encontraram.

48. And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of [every] city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.