Chapter 21

1Now the men of Yisrael had taken an oath at Mitzpa: “None of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjaminite.”

v'-EESH yis-ra-AYL nish-BA ba-mitz-PAH lay-MOR EESH mi-ME-nu lo yi-TAYN bi-TO l'-vin-ya-MIN l'-i-SHAH

אוְאִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל נִשְׁבַּע בַּמִּצְפָּה לֵאמֹר אִישׁ מִמֶּנּוּ לֹא־יִתֵּן בִּתּוֹ לְבִנְיָמִן לְאִשָּׁה׃

2The people came to Beit El and sat there before Hashem until evening. They wailed and wept bitterly,

va-ya-VO ha-AM bayt AYL va-YAY-sh'-vu SHAM ad ha-E-rev lif-NAY ha-e-lo-HEEM va-yis-U ko-LAM va-yiv-KU b'-KHEE ga-DOL

בוַיָּבֹא הָעָם בֵּית־אֵל וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׁם עַד־הָעֶרֶב לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וַיִּשְׂאוּ קוֹלָם וַיִּבְכּוּ בְּכִי גָדוֹל׃

3and they said, “O God of Yisrael, why has this happened in Yisrael, that one tribe must now be missing from Yisrael?”

va-YO-m'-RU la-MAH a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL HA-y'-tah ZOT b'-yis-ra-AYL l'-hi-pa-KAYD ha-YOM mi-yis-ra-AYL SHAY-vet e-KHAD

גוַיֹּאמְרוּ לָמָה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיְתָה זֹּאת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְהִפָּקֵד הַיּוֹם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל שֵׁבֶט אֶחָד׃

4Early the next day, the people built a mizbayach there, and they brought burnt offerings and offerings of well-being.

vai-HEE mi-ma-kho-RAT va-yash-KEE-mu ha-AM va-yiv-nu SHAM miz-BAY-akh va-ya-a-LU o-LOT ush-la-MEEM

דוַיְהִי מִמָּחֳרָת וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ הָעָם וַיִּבְנוּ־שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלוֹת וּשְׁלָמִים׃

5The Israelites asked, “Is there anyone from all the tribes of Yisrael who failed to come up to the assembly before Hashem?” For a solemn oath had been taken concerning anyone who did not go up to Hashem at Mitzpa: “He shall be put to death.”

va-yo-m'-RU b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL MEE a-SHER lo a-LAH va-ka-HAL mi-kol shiv-TAY yis-ra-AYL el a-do-NAI KEE ha-sh'-vu-AH ha-g'-do-LAH ha-y'-TAH la-a-SHER lo a-LAH el a-do-NAI ha-mitz-PAH lay-MOR MOT yu-MAT

הוַיֹּאמְרוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָלָה בַקָּהָל מִכָּל־שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהֹוָה כִּי הַשְּׁבוּעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הָיְתָה לַאֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָלָה אֶל־יְהֹוָה הַמִּצְפָּה לֵאמֹר מוֹת יוּמָת׃

6The Israelites now relented toward their kinsmen the Benjaminites, and they said, “This day one tribe has been cut off from Yisrael!

va-yi-na-kha-MU b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL el bin-ya-MIN a-KHEEV va-yo-m'-RU nig-DA ha-YOM SHAY-vet e-KHAD mi-yis-ra-AYL

ווַיִּנָּחֲמוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־בִּנְיָמִן אָחִיו וַיֹּאמְרוּ נִגְדַּע הַיּוֹם שֵׁבֶט אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל׃

7What can we do to provide wives for those who are left, seeing that we have sworn by Hashem not to give any of our daughters to them in marriage?”

mah na-a-SEH la-HEM la-no-ta-REEM l'-na-SHEEM va-a-NAKH-nu nish-BA-nu va-do-NAI l'-vil-TEE tayt la-HEM mi-b'-no-TAY-nu l'-na-SHEEM

זמַה־נַּעֲשֶׂה לָהֶם לַנּוֹתָרִים לְנָשִׁים וַאֲנַחְנוּ נִשְׁבַּעְנוּ בַיהֹוָה לְבִלְתִּי תֵּת־לָהֶם מִבְּנוֹתֵינוּ לְנָשִׁים׃

8They inquired, “Is there anyone from the tribes of Yisrael who did not go up to Hashem at Mitzpa?” Now no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp, to the assembly.

va-yo-m'-RU MEE e-KHAD mi-shiv-TAY yis-ra-AYL a-SHER lo a-LAH el a-do-NAI ha-mitz-PAH v'-hi-NAY LO va EESH el ha-ma-kha-NEH mi-ya-VAYSH gil-AD el ha-ka-HAL

חוַיֹּאמְרוּ מִי אֶחָד מִשִּׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָלָה אֶל־יְהֹוָה הַמִּצְפָּה וְהִנֵּה לֹא בָא־אִישׁ אֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶה מִיָּבֵישׁ גִּלְעָד אֶל־הַקָּהָל׃

9For, when the roll of the troops was taken, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was present.

va-yit-pa-KAYD ha-AM v'-hi-NAY ayn SHAM EESH mi-yo-sh'-VAY ya-VAYSH gil-AD

טוַיִּתְפָּקֵד הָעָם וְהִנֵּה אֵין־שָׁם אִישׁ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵי יָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד׃

10So the assemblage dispatched 12,000 of the warriors, instructing them as follows: “Go and put the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead to the sword, women and children included.

va-yish-l'-khu SHAM ha-ay-DAH sh'-naym a-SAR E-lef EESH mi-b'-NAY he-KHA-yil vai-tza-VU o-TAM lay-MOR l'-KHU v'-hi-kee-TEM et yo-sh'-VAY ya-VAYSH gil-AD l'-fee KHE-rev v'-ha-na-SHEEM v'-ha-TAF

יוַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־שָׁם הָעֵדָה שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר אֶלֶף אִישׁ מִבְּנֵי הֶחָיִל וַיְצַוּוּ אוֹתָם לֵאמֹר לְכוּ וְהִכִּיתֶם אֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵי יָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד לְפִי־חֶרֶב וְהַנָּשִׁים וְהַטָּף׃

11This is what you are to do: Proscribe every man, and every woman who has known a man carnally.”

v'-ZEH ha-da-VAR a-SHER ta-a-SU kol za-KHAR v'-khol i-SHAH yo-DA-at misk-kav za-KHAR ta-kha-REE-mu

יאוְזֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשׂוּ כָּל־זָכָר וְכָל־אִשָּׁה יֹדַעַת מִשְׁכַּב־זָכָר תַּחֲרִימוּ׃

12They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 maidens who had not known a man carnally; and they brought them to the camp at Shilo, which is in the land of Canaan.

va-yim-tz'-U mi-yo-sh'-VAY ya-VAYSH gil-AD ar-BA may-OT na-a-RAH v'-tu-LAH a-SHER lo ya-d'-AH EESH l'-mish-KAV za-KHAR va-ya-VI-u o-TAM el ha-ma-kha-NEH shi-LOH a-SHER b'-E-retz k'-NA-an

יבוַיִּמְצְאוּ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵי יָבֵישׁ גִּלְעָד אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת נַעֲרָה בְתוּלָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָדְעָה אִישׁ לְמִשְׁכַּב זָכָר וַיָּבִיאוּ אוֹתָם אֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶה שִׁלֹה אֲשֶׁר בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן׃

13Then the whole community sent word to the Benjaminites who were at the Rock of Rimmon, and offered them terms of peace.

va-yish-l'-KHU kol ha-ay-DAH vai-da-b'-RU el b'-NAY vin-ya-MIN a-SHER b'-SE-la ri-MON va-yik-r'-U la-HEM sha-LOM

יגוַיִּשְׁלְחוּ כָּל־הָעֵדָה וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֶל־בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן אֲשֶׁר בְּסֶלַע רִמּוֹן וַיִּקְרְאוּ לָהֶם שָׁלוֹם׃

14Thereupon the Benjaminites returned, and they gave them the girls who had been spared from the women of Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough of them.

va-YA-shov bin-ya-MIN ba-AYT ha-HEE va-yi-t'-NU la-HEM ha-na-SHEEM a-SHER khi-YU mi-n'-SHAY ya-VAYSH gil-AD v'-lo ma-tz'-U la-HEM KAYN

ידוַיָּשָׁב בִּנְיָמִן בָּעֵת הַהִיא וַיִּתְּנוּ לָהֶם הַנָּשִׁים אֲשֶׁר חִיּוּ מִנְּשֵׁי יָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד וְלֹא־מָצְאוּ לָהֶם כֵּן׃

15Now the people had relented toward Binyamin, for Hashem had made a breach in the tribes of Yisrael.

v'-ha-AM ni-KHAM l'-vin-ya-MIN kee a-SAH a-do-NAI PE-retz b'-shiv-TAY yis-ra-AYL

טווְהָעָם נִחָם לְבִנְיָמִן כִּי־עָשָׂה יְהֹוָה פֶּרֶץ בְּשִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

16So the elders of the community asked, “What can we do about wives for those who are left, since the women of Binyamin have been killed off?”

va-yo-m'-RU zik-NAY ha-ay-DAH mah na-a-SEH la-no-ta-REEM l'-na-SHEEM kee nish-m'-DAH mi-bin-ya-MIN i-SHAH

טזוַיֹּאמְרוּ זִקְנֵי הָעֵדָה מַה־נַּעֲשֶׂה לַנּוֹתָרִים לְנָשִׁים כִּי־נִשְׁמְדָה מִבִּנְיָמִן אִשָּׁה׃

17For they said, “There must be a saving remnant for Binyamin, that a tribe may not be blotted out of Yisrael;

va-yo-m'-RU y'-ru-SHAT p'-lay-TAH l'-vin-ya-MIN v'-lo yi-ma-KHEH SHAY-vet mi-yis-ra-AYL

יזוַיֹּאמְרוּ יְרֻשַּׁת פְּלֵיטָה לְבִנְיָמִן וְלֹא־יִמָּחֶה שֵׁבֶט מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל׃

18yet we cannot give them any of our daughters as wives,” since the Israelites had taken an oath: “Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to Binyamin!”

va-a-NAKH-nu LO nu-KHAL la-TAYT la-HEM na-SHEEM mi-b'-no-TAY-nu kee nish-b'-U v'-nay yis-ra-AYL lay-MOR a-RUR no-TAYN i-SHAH l'-vin-ya-MIN

יחוַאֲנַחְנוּ לֹא נוּכַל לָתֵת־לָהֶם נָשִׁים מִבְּנוֹתֵינוּ כִּי־נִשְׁבְּעוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר אָרוּר נֹתֵן אִשָּׁה לְבִנְיָמִן׃

19They said, “The annual feast of Hashem is now being held at Shilo.” (It lies north of Beit El, east of the highway that runs from Beit El to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.)

va-yo-m'-RU hi-NAY khag a-do-NAI b'-shi-LO mi-ya-MEEM ya-MEE-mah a-SHER mi-tz'-FO-nah l'-vayt AYL miz-r'-KHAH ha-SHE-mesh lim-si-LAH ha-o-LAH mi-bayt AYL sh'-KHE-mah u-mi-NE-gev lil-vo-NAH

יטוַיֹּאמְרוּ הִנֵּה חַג־יְהֹוָה בְּשִׁלוֹ מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה אֲשֶׁר מִצְּפוֹנָה לְבֵית־אֵל מִזְרְחָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לִמְסִלָּה הָעֹלָה מִבֵּית־אֵל שְׁכֶמָה וּמִנֶּגֶב לִלְבוֹנָה׃

20So they instructed the Benjaminites as follows: “Go and lie in wait in the vineyards.

vai-tza-VU et b'-NAY vin-ya-MIN lay-MOR l'-KHU va-a-rav-TEM ba-k'-ra-MEEM

כויצו [וַיְצַוּוּ] אֶת־בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן לֵאמֹר לְכוּ וַאֲרַבְתֶּם בַּכְּרָמִים׃

21As soon as you see the girls of Shilo coming out to join in the dances, come out from the vineyards; let each of you seize a wife from among the girls of Shilo, and be off for the land of Binyamin.

ur-ee-TEM v'-hi-NAY im yay-tz'-U b'-not shi-LO la-KHUL ba-m'-kho-LOT vee-tza-TEM min ha-k'-ra-MEEM va-kha-taf-TEM la-KHEM EESH ish-TO mi-b'-NOT shee-LO va-ha-lakh-TEM E-retz bin-ya-MIN

כאוּרְאִיתֶם וְהִנֵּה אִם־יֵצְאוּ בְנוֹת־שִׁילוֹ לָחוּל בַּמְּחֹלוֹת וִיצָאתֶם מִן־הַכְּרָמִים וַחֲטַפְתֶּם לָכֶם אִישׁ אִשְׁתּוֹ מִבְּנוֹת שִׁילוֹ וַהֲלַכְתֶּם אֶרֶץ בִּנְיָמִן׃

22And if their fathers or brothers come to us to complain, we shall say to them, ‘Be generous to them for our sake! We could not provide any of them with a wife on account of the war, and you would have incurred guilt if you yourselves had given them [wives].'”

v'-ha-YAH kee ya-VO-u a-vo-TAM O a-khay-HEM la-REEV ay-LAY-nu v'-a-MAR-nu a-lay-HEM kha-NU-nu o-TAM KEE LO la-KAKH-nu EESH ish-TO ba-mil-kha-MAH KEE LO a-TEM n'-ta-TEM la-HEM ka-AYT te-SHA-mu

כבוְהָיָה כִּי־יָבֹאוּ אֲבוֹתָם אוֹ אֲחֵיהֶם לרוב [לָרִיב ] אֵלֵינוּ וְאָמַרְנוּ אֲלֵיהֶם חָנּוּנוּ אוֹתָם כִּי לֹא לָקַחְנוּ אִישׁ אִשְׁתּוֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָה כִּי לֹא אַתֶּם נְתַתֶּם לָהֶם כָּעֵת תֶּאְשָׁמוּ׃

23The Benjaminites did so. They took to wife, from the dancers whom they carried off, as many as they themselves numbered. Then they went back to their own territory, and rebuilt their towns and settled in them.

va-ya-a-su KHAYN b'-NAY vin-ya-MIN va-yis-U na-SHEEM l'-mis-pa-RAM min ha-m'-kho-l'-LOT a-SHER ga-ZA-lu va-yay-l'-KHU va-ya-SHU-vu el na-kha-la-TAM va-yiv-NU et he-a-REEM va-yay-sh'-VU ba-HEM

כגוַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵן בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן וַיִּשְׂאוּ נָשִׁים לְמִסְפָּרָם מִן־הַמְּחֹלְלוֹת אֲשֶׁר גָּזָלוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיָּשׁוּבוּ אֶל־נַחֲלָתָם וַיִּבְנוּ אֶת־הֶעָרִים וַיֵּשְׁבוּ בָּהֶם׃

24Thereupon the Israelites dispersed, each to his own tribe and clan; everyone departed for his own territory.

va-yit-ha-l'-KHU mi-SHAM b'-nay yis-ra-AYL ba-AYT ha-HEE EESH l'-shiv-TO ul-mish-pakh-TO va-yay-tz'-U mi-SHAM EESH l'-na-kha-la-TO

כדוַיִּתְהַלְּכוּ מִשָּׁם בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּעֵת הַהִיא אִישׁ לְשִׁבְטוֹ וּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ וַיֵּצְאוּ מִשָּׁם אִישׁ לְנַחֲלָתוֹ׃

25In those days there was no king in Yisrael; everyone did as he pleased.

ba-ya-MEEM ha-HAYM AYN ME-lekh b'-yis-ra-AYL EESH ha-ya-SHAR b'-ay-NAV ya-a-SEH

כהבַּיָּמִים הָהֵם אֵין מֶלֶךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אִישׁ הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו יַעֲשֶׂה׃