Jueces 20

EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Entonces todos los israelitas salieron como un solo hombre, desde Dan hasta Berseba y hasta la región de Galaad, y la comunidad se reunió delante del Señor, en Mispá.	1 And so all the sons of Israel went out like one man, from Dan to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, and they gathered together, before the Lord, at Mizpah.
2 Los dignatarios de todo el pueblo y todas las tribus acudieron a la asamblea del pueblo de Dios: eran cuatrocientos mil hombres de a pie, armados de espada.	2 And all the chiefs of the people, and every tribe of Israel, convened as an assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers for battle.
3 Los benjaminitas, por su parte, oyeron que los israelitas habían subido a Mispá. Los israelitas dijeron: «Cuéntennos cómo ha sucedido el crimen».	3 (But it was not hidden from the sons of Benjamin that the sons of Israel had ascended to Mizpah.) And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was killed, being questioned as to how so great a crime had been perpetrated,
4 Entonces el levita, el marido de la mujer asesinada, tomó la palabra y dijo: «Yo y mi concubina llegamos a Guibeá de Benjamín para pasar la noche,	4 responded: “I went to Gibeah of Benjamin, with my wife, and I diverted to that place.
5 y los vecinos de Guibeá se levantaron contra mí: durante la noche rodearon la casa, intentaron matarme y abusaron de mi concubina hasta hacerla morir.	5 And behold, the men of that city, at night, surrounded the house in which I was staying, intending to kill me. And they abused my wife with such an incredible fury of lust that in the end she died.
6 Yo tomé a mi concubina, la corté en pedazos y envié esos pedazos a todo el territorio de la herencia de Israel, porque se había cometido una depravación y una infamia en Israel.	6 And taking her up, I cut her into pieces, and I sent the parts into all the borders of your possession. For never before was such a nefarious crime, and so great a sin, committed in Israel.
7 Ahora les toca a ustedes, israelitas, tomar aquí mismo una determinación».	7 You are all present here, O sons of Israel. Discern what you ought to do.”
8 Todo el pueblo se levantó como un solo hombre y exclamó: «Ninguno de nosotros irá a su campamento; nadie volverá a su casa.	8 And all the people, standing, responded as if with the word of one man: “We shall not return to our own tents, nor shall anyone enter into his own house.
9 Y con Guibeá haremos lo siguiente: sortearemos a los que subirán a atacarla;	9 But this we shall do in common against Gibeah:
10 de entre todas las tribus de Israel, tomaremos a diez hombres de cada cien, a cien de cada mil, y a mil de cada diez mil. Ellos recogerán víveres para la tropa, es decir, para los que irán a dar su merecido a Guibeá de Benjamín por la infamia que ha cometido en Israel».	10 We shall select ten men out of one hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred out of one thousand, and one thousand out of ten thousand, so that they may transport supplies for the army, and so that we will be able to fight against Gibeah of Benjamin, and to repay it for its crime as it deserves.”
11 Así, todos los hombres de Israel quedaron unidos como un solo hombre contra aquella ciudad.	11 And all of Israel convened against the city, like one man, with one mind and one counsel.
12 Las tribus de Israel enviaron emisarios a toda la tribu de Benjamín para decirle: «¿Qué explicación dan al crimen que se ha cometido entre ustedes?	12 And they sent messengers to the entire tribe of Benjamin, who said: “Why has so great a wickedness been found among you?
13 Entreguen a esos hombres pervertidos de Guibeá, para que los matemos y hagamos desaparecer el mal de Israel. Pero los benjaminitas no quisieron escuchar la demanda de sus hermanos israelitas.	13 Deliver the men of Gibeah, who have perpetrated this deplorable act, so that they may die, and so that the evil may be taken away from Israel.” And they were not willing to listen to the command of their brothers, the sons of Israel.
14 Los benjaminitas de todas las ciudades se reunieron en Guibeá para salir a combatir contra los israelitas.	14 Instead, out of all the cities that were their lot, they convened at Gibeah, so that they might bring them assistance, and so that they might contend against the entire people of Israel.
15 Aquel mismo día se hizo el recuento de los benjaminitas provenientes de las diversas ciudades, y resultaron en total veinticinco mil hombres armados de espada, sin contar a los habitantes de Guibeá.	15 And there were found from Benjamin twenty-five thousand who drew the sword, aside from the inhabitants of Gibeah,
16 De toda esa tropa, setecientos hombres eran guerreros adiestrados, ambidextros, y capaces de arrojar la piedra de su honda contra un cabello, sin errar el tiro.	16 who were seven hundred very strong men, fighting with the left hand as well as with the right hand, and casting stones from a sling so accurately that they were able to strike even a hair, and the path of the stone would by no means miss to either side.
17 La gente de Israel también hizo un recuento: descontando a Benjamín, eran cuatrocientos mil hombres armados de espada, todos guerreros.	17 Then too, among the men of Israel apart from the sons of Benjamin, there were found four hundred thousand who drew the sword and who were prepared for battle.
18 En seguida subieron a Betel y consultaron a Dios para preguntarle: «¿Quién de nosotros será el primero en subir a luchar contra los benjaminitas?». Y el Señor respondió: «Judá será el primero».	18 And they rose up and went to the house of God, that is, to Shiloh. And they consulted God, and they said, “Who shall be, in our army, the first to contend against the sons of Benjamin?” And the Lord responded to them, “Let Judah be your leader.”
19 Los israelitas avanzaron de madrugada para acampar frente a Guibeá	19 And immediately the sons of Israel, rising up in the morning, made camp near Gibeah.
20 y salir a luchar contra Benjamín. Los hombres de Israel se dispusieron en orden de batalla frente a la ciudad,	20 And setting out from there to fight against Benjamin, they began to assault the city.
21 pero los benjaminitas salieron de Guibeá y dejaron tendidos por tierra aquel día a veintidós mil hombres de Israel.	21 And the sons of Benjamin, departing from Gibeah, slew twenty-two thousand men from the sons of Israel, on that day.
22 Entonces los israelitas subieron a lamentarse delante del Señor hasta la tarde. Luego consultaron al Señor, diciendo: «¿Tenemos que entablar un nuevo combate con los hijos de nuestro hermano Benjamín?». Y el Señor respondió: «Suban a atacarlo».	22 Again the sons of Israel, trusting in both strength and number, set their troops in order, in the same place where they had contended before.
23 De esta manera, la tropa israelita recobró el valor y volvió a disponer sus filas para el combate en el mismo lugar que el primer día.	23 But first they also went up and wept before the Lord, even until night. And they consulted him and said, “Should I continue to go forth, so as to contend against the sons of Benjamin, my brothers, or not?” And he responded to them, “Ascend against them, and undertake the struggle.”
24 Los israelitas se acercaron por segunda vez a los benjaminitas,	24 And when the sons of Israel had continued to do battle against the sons of Benjamin on the next day,
25 pero también aquel segundo día Benjamín les salió al encuentro desde Guibeá, y dejó tendidos por tierra a dieciocho mil israelitas, todos ellos armados de espada.	25 the sons of Benjamin burst forth from the gates of Gibeah. And meeting them, they made such a frenzied slaughter against them that they struck down eighteen thousand men who drew the sword.
26 Entonces los israelitas subieron a Betel con todo el pueblo y allí se lamentaron, sentados delante del Señor: ayunaron todo el día hasta la tarde y ofrecieron al Señor holocaustos y sacrificios de comunión.	26 As a result, all the sons of Israel went to the house of God, and sitting down, they wept before the Lord. And they fasted that day until evening, and they offered to him holocausts and victims of peace offerings.
27 Después consultaron al Señor, porque en aquel tiempo el Arca de la Alianza de Dios se encontraba allí,	27 And they inquired about their state. At that time, the ark of the covenant of the Lord was in that place.
28 y Pinjás, hijo de Eleazar, hijo de Aarón, estaba al servicio de ella. «¿Tenemos que salir otra vez a luchar contra los hijos de nuestro hermano Benjamín, o debemos desistir?», preguntaron al Señor. Y el Señor respondió: «Suban, porque mañana los entregaré en manos de ustedes».	28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was the first ruler of the house. And so, they consulted the Lord, and they said, “Should we continue to go forth in battle against the sons of Benjamin, our brothers, or should we cease?” And the Lord said to them: “Ascend. For tomorrow, I will deliver them into your hands.”
29 Israel tendió una emboscada alrededor de Guibeá.	29 And the sons of Israel stationed ambushes around the city of Gibeah.
30 Al tercer día, los israelitas avanzaron contra Benjamín, y dispusieron sus filas contra Guibeá, como las otras veces.	30 And they brought out their army against Benjamin a third time, just as they had done on the first and second times.
31 los benjaminitas les salieron al encuentro, dejándose arrastrar lejos de la ciudad, y comenzaron como las otras veces a matar gente por los senderos que suben, uno a Betel y el otro a Gabaón. Así mataron a unos treinta hombres de Israel, sobre el campo raso.	31 But the sons of Benjamin again burst forth boldly from the city. And since their enemies were fleeing, they pursued them a long way, so that they might wound or kill some of them, just as they had done on the first and second days. And they turned their backs along two paths, one bringing them toward Bethel, and the other toward Gibeah. And they struck down about thirty men.
32 Entonces los benjaminitas pensaron: «Ya los tenemos derrotados como la primera vez». Pero los israelitas habían dicho: «Vamos a simular que huimos, para atraerlos hasta los caminos, lejos de la ciudad».	32 For they thought that they were falling back as they had done before. But instead, skillfully feigning flight, they undertook a plan to draw them away from the city, and by seeming to flee, to lead them along the above stated paths.
33 Todos los hombres de Israel se levantaron de sus puestos y tomaron posiciones en Baal Tamar. Los israelitas que estaban emboscados, atacaron desde sus posiciones al oeste de Gueba.	33 And so all the sons of Israel, rising up from their positions, set their troops in order, in the place which is called Baaltamar. Likewise, the ambushes that encircled the city began, little by little, to reveal themselves,
34 Diez mil guerreros adiestrados de todo Israel llegaron frente a Guibeá. El combate se hizo muy encarnizado, sin que los benjaminitas advirtieran el desastre que se les venía encima.	34 and to advance upon the western part of the city. Moreover, another ten thousand men from all of Israel were provoking a conflict with the inhabitants of the city. And the war grew heavy against the sons of Benjamin. And they did not realize that, on all sides of them, death was imminent.
35 El Señor hizo que Benjamín cayera derrotado delante de Israel, y aquel día los israelitas mataron a veinticinco mil cien hombres de Benjamín, todos ellos armados de espada	35 And the Lord struck them down in the sight of the sons of Israel, and they put to death, on that day, twenty-five thousand of them, along with one hundred men, all warriors and those who drew the sword.
	36 But the sons of Benjamin, when they had seen themselves to be the weaker, began to flee. And the sons of Israel discerning this, gave them room to flee, so that they might arrive at the ambushes that were prepared, which they had positioned near the city.
37 Estos, por su parte, se desplegaron rápidamente y atacaron a Guibeá, pasando a todos sus habitantes al filo de la espada.	37 And after they had risen up suddenly from hiding, and those of Benjamin had turned their backs to those who cut them down, they entered the city, and they struck it with the edge of the sword.
38 La gente de Israel se había puesto de acuerdo con los que estaban emboscados, para que estos levantaran una humareda desde la ciudad,	38 Now the sons of Israel had given a sign to those whom they had stationed in ambushes, so that, after they had seized the city, they would light a fire, and by the smoke ascending on high, they would show that the city was captured.
39 y entonces ellos presentarían batalla. Cuando Benjamín comenzó a matar a algunos israelitas, unos treinta hombres en total, pensó: «Ya los tenemos completamente derrotados, como en el primer combate».	39 And then, the sons of Israel discerned this sign during the battle (for the sons of Benjamin had thought that they fled, and they pursued them forcefully, cutting down thirty men from their army).
40 Pero la columna de humo empezó a levantarse desde la ciudad, y Benjamín, al mirar atrás, vio que la ciudad entera subía en llamas hacia el cielo.	40 And they saw something like a pillar of smoke ascending from the city. Likewise, Benjamin, looking back, discerned that the city was captured, for the flames were being carried on high.
41 Entonces los hombres de Israel presentaron batalla, y los benjaminitas temblaron al ver el desastre que se les venía encima.	41 And those who before had pretended to flee, turning their faces, withstood them more strongly. And when the sons of Benjamin had seen this, they turned their backs in flight,
42 Los benjaminitas retrocedieron ante los hombres de Israel en dirección al desierto, pero se vieron acosados por los combatientes, y los que venían de la ciudad atacaron tomándolos entre dos frentes.	42 and they began to go toward the way of the desert, with the adversary pursuing them to that place also. Moreover, those who had set fire to the city also met them.
43 Así encerraron a Benjamín, lo persiguieron sin darle tregua y siguieron derrotándolo hasta llegar a Gueba por el oriente.	43 And so it happened that they were cut down on both sides by the enemies, nor was there any respite for the dying. They were killed and struck down on the eastern side of the city of Gibeah.
44 Cayeron dieciocho mil guerreros de Benjamín.	44 Now those who were put to death in the same place were eighteen thousand men, all very robust fighters.
45 y los sobrevivientes volvieron la espalda y huyeron al desierto, hacia la Roca de Rimón. Los israelitas capturaron por los caminos a cinco mil hombres y, mientras perseguían a Benjamín hasta Gueba, mataron a otros dos mil.	45 And when those who remained of Benjamin had seen this, they fled into the wilderness. And they were traveling toward the rock which is called Rimmon. In that flight also, among those who were scattering in different directions, they slew five thousand men. And though they scattered all the more, they continued to pursue them, and then they put to death another two thousand.
46 Aquel día cayeron en total veinticinco mil benjaminitas, todos ellos guerreros armados de espada.	46 And so it happened that all of those who were slain from Benjamin, in various places, were twenty-five thousand fighters, very willing to go to war.
47 Seiscientos hombres, en cambio, pudieron escapar al desierto, hasta la Roca de Rimón, y allí estuvieron durante cuatro meses.	47 And so there remained from the entire number of Benjamin six hundred men who were able to escape and to flee into the wilderness. And they settled at the rock of Rimmon, for four months.
48 Los israelitas se volvieron contra los benjaminitas y pasaron al filo de la espada a los varones de las ciudades, al ganado y a todo lo que encontraron, y también incendiaron a su paso a todas las ciudades.	48 But the sons of Israel, returning, had struck with the sword all that remained in the city, from men even to cattle. And all the cities and villages of Benjamin were consumed with devouring flames.