Jueces 21
Louis Segond 1910
1Les hommes d’Israël avaient juré à Mitspa, en disant: Aucun de nous ne donnera sa fille pour femme à un Benjamite.
2Le peuple vint à Béthel, et il y resta devant Dieu jusqu’au soir. Ils élevèrent la voix, ils versèrent d’abondantes larmes,
3et ils dirent: O Éternel, Dieu d’Israël, pourquoi est-il arrivé en Israël qu’il manque aujourd’hui une tribu d’Israël?
4Le lendemain, le peuple se leva de bon matin; ils bâtirent là un autel, et ils offrirent des holocaustes et des sacrifices d’actions de grâces.
5Les enfants d’Israël dirent: Quel est celui d’entre toutes les tribus d’Israël qui n’est pas monté à l’assemblée devant l’Éternel? Car on avait fait un serment solennel contre quiconque ne monterait pas vers l’Éternel à Mitspa, on avait dit: Il sera puni de mort.
6Les enfants d’Israël éprouvaient du repentir au sujet de Benjamin, leur frère, et ils disaient: Aujourd’hui une tribu a été retranchée d’Israël.
7Que ferons-nous pour procurer des femmes à ceux qui ont survécu, puisque nous avons juré par l’Éternel de ne pas leur donner de nos filles pour femmes?
8Ils dirent donc: Y a-t-il quelqu’un d’entre les tribus d’Israël qui ne soit pas monté vers l’Éternel à Mitspa? Et voici, personne de Jabès en Galaad n’était venu au camp, à l’assemblée.
9On fit le dénombrement du peuple, et il n’y avait là aucun des habitants de Jabès en Galaad.
10Alors l’assemblée envoya contre eux douze mille soldats, en leur donnant cet ordre: Allez, et frappez du tranchant de l’épée les habitants de Jabès en Galaad, avec les femmes et les enfants.
11Voici ce que vous ferez: vous dévouerez par interdit tout mâle et toute femme qui a connu la couche d’un homme.
12Ils trouvèrent parmi les habitants de Jabès en Galaad quatre cents jeunes filles vierges qui n’avaient point connu d’homme en couchant avec lui, et ils les amenèrent dans le camp à Silo, qui est au pays de Canaan.
13Toute l’assemblée envoya des messagers pour parler aux fils de Benjamin qui étaient au rocher de Rimmon, et pour leur annoncer la paix.
14En ce temps-là, les Benjamites revinrent, et on leur donna les femmes à qui l’on avait laissé la vie parmi les femmes de Jabès en Galaad. Mais il n’y en avait pas assez pour eux.
15Le peuple éprouvait du repentir au sujet de Benjamin, car l’Éternel avait fait une brèche dans les tribus d’Israël.
16Les anciens de l’assemblée dirent: Que ferons-nous pour procurer des femmes à ceux qui restent, puisque les femmes de Benjamin ont été détruites?
17Et ils dirent: Que les réchappés de Benjamin conservent leur héritage, afin qu’une tribu ne soit pas effacée d’Israël.
18Mais nous ne pouvons pas leur donner de nos filles pour femmes, car les enfants d’Israël ont juré, en disant: Maudit soit celui qui donnera une femme à un Benjamite!
19Et ils dirent: Voici, il y a chaque année une fête de l’Éternel à Silo, qui est au nord de Béthel, à l’orient de la route qui monte de Béthel, à Sichem, et au midi de Lebona.
20Puis ils donnèrent cet ordre aux fils de Benjamin: Allez, et placez-vous en embuscade dans les vignes.
21Vous regarderez, et voici, lorsque les filles de Silo sortiront pour danser, vous sortirez des vignes, vous enlèverez chacun une des filles de Silo pour en faire votre femme, et vous vous en irez dans le pays de Benjamin.
22Si leurs pères ou leurs frères viennent se plaindre auprès de nous, nous leur dirons: Accordez-les-nous, car nous n’avons pas pris une femme pour chacun dans la guerre. Ce n’est pas vous qui les leur avez données; en ce cas, vous seriez coupables.
23Ainsi firent les fils de Benjamin; ils prirent des femmes selon leur nombre parmi les danseuses qu’ils enlevèrent, puis ils partirent et retournèrent dans leur héritage; ils rebâtirent les villes, et y habitèrent.
24Et dans le même temps les enfants d’Israël s’en allèrent de là chacun dans sa tribu et dans sa famille, ils retournèrent chacun dans son héritage.
25En ce temps-là, il n’y avait point de roi en Israël. Chacun faisait ce qui lui semblait bon.
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y LOS varones de Israel habían jurado en Mizpa, diciendo: Ninguno de nosotros dará su hija á los de Benjamín por mujer.
2Y vino el pueblo á la casa de Dios, y estuviéronse allí hasta la tarde delante de Dios; y alzando su voz hicieron gran llanto, y dijeron:
3Oh Jehová Dios de Israel, ¿por qué ha sucedido esto en Israel, que falte hoy de Israel una tribu?
4Y al día siguiente el pueblo se levantó de mañana, y edificaron allí altar, y ofrecieron holocaustos y pacíficos.
5Y dijeron los hijos de Israel: ¿Quién de todas las tribus de Israel no subió á la reunión cerca de Jehová? Porque se había hecho gran juramento contra el que no subiese á Jehová en Mizpa, diciendo: Sufrirá muerte.
6Y los hijos de Israel se arrepintieron á causa de Benjamín su hermano, y dijeron: Una tribu es hoy cortada de Israel.
7¿Qué haremos en cuanto á mujeres para los que han quedado? Nosotros hemos jurado por Jehová que no les hemos de dar nuestras hijas por mujeres.
8Y dijeron: ¿Hay alguno de las tribus de Israel que no haya subido á Jehová en Mizpa? Y hallaron que ninguno de Jabes-galaad había venido al campo á la reunión:
9Porque el pueblo fué contado, y no hubo allí varón de los moradores de Jabes-galaad.
10Entonces la congregación envió allá doce mil hombres de los más valientes, y mandáronles, diciendo: Id y poned á cuchillo á los moradores de Jabes-galaad, y las mujeres y niños.
11Mas haréis de esta manera: mataréis á todo varón, y á toda mujer que hubiere conocido ayuntamiento de varón.
12Y hallaron de los moradores de Jabes-galaad cuatrocientas doncellas que no habían conocido hombre en ayuntamiento de varón, y trajéronlas al campo en Silo, que es en la tierra de Canaán.
13Toda la congregación envió luego á hablar á los hijos de Benjamín que estaban en la peña de Rimmón, y llamáronlos en paz.
14Y volvieron entonces los de Benjamín; y diéronles por mujeres las que habían guardado vivas de las mujeres de Jabes-galaad: mas no les bastaron éstas.
15Y el pueblo tuvo dolor á causa de Benjamín, de que Jehová hubiese hecho mella en las tribus de Israel.
16Entonces los ancianos de la congregación dijeron: ¿Qué haremos acerca de mujeres para los que han quedado? Porque el sexo de las mujeres había sido raído de Benjamín.
17Y dijeron: La heredad de los que han escapado ha de ser lo que era de Benjamín, porque no sea una tribu raída de Israel.
18Nosotros empero, no les podemos dar mujeres de nuestras hijas, porque los hijos de Israel han jurado, diciendo: Maldito el que diere mujer á Benjamín.
19Ahora bien, dijeron, he aquí cada un año hay solemnidad de Jehová en Silo, que está al aquilón de Beth-el, y al lado oriental del camino que sube de Beth-el á Sichêm, y al mediodía de Lebona.
20Y mandaron á los hijos de Benjamín, diciendo: Id, y poned emboscada en las viñas:
21Y estad atentos: y cuando viereis salir las hijas de Silo á bailar en corros, vosotros saldréis de las viñas, y arrebataréis cada uno mujer para sí de las hijas de Silo, y os iréis á tierra de Benjamín:
22Y cuando vinieren los padres de ellas ó sus hermanos á demandárnoslo, nosotros les diremos: Tened piedad de nosotros en lugar de ellos: pues que nosotros en la guerra no tomamos mujeres para todos: que vosotros no se las habéis dado, para que ahora seáis culpables.
23Y los hijos de Benjamín lo hicieron así; pues tomaron mujeres conforme á su número, pillando de las que danzaban; y yéndose luego, tornáronse á su heredad, y reedificaron las ciudades, y habitaron en ellas.
24Entonces los hijos de Israel se fueron también de allí, cada uno á su tribu y á su familia, saliendo de allí cada uno á su heredad.
25En estos días no había rey en Israel: cada uno hacía lo recto delante de sus ojos.
King James Version
1Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
2And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;
3And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?
4And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
6And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
7How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?
8And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.
9For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.
10And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.
11And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
12And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
13And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.
14And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.
15And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
16Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
17And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
18Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
19Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
20Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;
21And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
22And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.
23And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.
24And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.
25In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
World English Bible
1Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us will give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.”
2The people came to Bethel and sat there until evening before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept severely.
3They said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that there should be one tribe lacking in Israel today?”
4On the next day, the people rose early and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5The children of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who didn’t come up in the assembly to the LORD?” For they had made a great oath concerning him who didn’t come up to the LORD to Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.”
6The children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, “There is one tribe cut off from Israel today.
7How shall we provide wives for those who remain, since we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?”
8They said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel who didn’t come up to the LORD to Mizpah?” Behold, no one came from Jabesh Gilead to the camp to the assembly.
9For when the people were counted, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead there.
10The congregation sent twelve thousand of the most valiant men there, and commanded them, saying, “Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones.
11This is the thing that you shall do: you shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has lain with a man.”
12They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them to the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
13The whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin who were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.
14Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh Gilead. There still weren’t enough for them.
15The people grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
16Then the elders of the congregation said, “How shall we provide wives for those who remain, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?”
17They said, “There must be an inheritance for those who are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel.
18However, we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, ‘Cursed is he who gives a wife to Benjamin.’”
19They said, “Behold, there is a feast of the LORD from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.”
20They commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,
21and see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards, and each man catch his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
22It shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, that we will say to them, ‘Grant them graciously to us, because we didn’t take for each man his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them; otherwise you would now be guilty.’”
23The children of Benjamin did so, and took wives for themselves according to their number, of those who danced, whom they carried off. They went and returned to their inheritance, built the cities, and lived in them.
24The children of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they each went out from there to his own inheritance.
25In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did that which was right in his own eyes.