Judges 21

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	BIBLIA
1 The sons of Israel had also taken an oath at Mizpah, and they said, “None of us shall give his daughters as a wife to the sons of Benjamin.”	1 Los hombres de Israel habían jurado en Mispá: «Ninguno de nosotros dará su hija en matrimonio a Benjamín».
2 And they all went to the house of God at Shiloh. And sitting in his sight until evening, they lifted up their voice, and they began to weep, with a great wailing, saying,	2 El pueblo fue a Betel y allí permaneció delante de Dios hasta la tarde clamando y llorando con grandes gemidos.
3 “Why, O Lord, God of Israel, has this evil happened among your people, so that this day one tribe would be taken away from us?”	3 Decían: «Yahveh, Dios de Israel, ¿por qué ha de suceder esto en Israel, que desaparezca hoy de Israel una de sus tribus?»
4 Then, rising at first light on the next day, they built an altar. And they offered holocausts and victims of peace offerings there, and they said,	4 Al día siguiente el pueblo se levantó de madrugada, construyó allí un altar, y ofreció holocaustos y sacrificios de comunión.
5 “Who, out of all the tribes of Israel, did not ascend with the army of the Lord?” For they had bound themselves with a great oath, when they were at Mizpah, that whoever was not present would be slain.	5 Dijeron los israelitas: «¿Quién de entre todas las tribus de Israel no acudió a la asamblea ante Yahveh?» Porque se había jurado solemnemente que el que no subiera a Mispá ante Yahveh tenía que morir.
6 And the sons of Israel, having been led to repentance over their brother Benjamin, began to say: “One tribe has been taken away from Israel.	6 Los israelitas estaban apenados por su hermano Benjamín y decían: «Hoy ha sido arrancada una tribu de Israel.
7 From where shall they receive wives? For we have all sworn in common that we will not give our daughters to them.”	7 ¿Qué haremos para proporcionar mujeres a los que quedan? Pues nosotros hemos jurado por Yahveh no darles nuestras hijas en matrimonio».
8 For this reason, they said, “Who is there, out of all the tribes of Israel, that did not ascend to the Lord at Mizpah?” And behold, the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead were found not to have been among that army.	8 Entonces se dijeron: «¿Cuál es la única tribu de Israel que no subió ante Yahveh a Mispá?» Y vieron que nadie de Yabés de Galaad había ido al campamento, a la asamblea.
9 (Likewise, in the time when they had been at Shiloh, not one of them was found to be there.)	9 Hicieron el censo del pueblo y no había ninguno de los habitantes de Yabés de Galaad.
10 And so they sent ten thousand very robust men, and they instructed them, saying, “Go and strike down the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead with the edge of the sword, including their wives and little ones.”	10 Entonces la comunidad mandó allá 12.000 hombres de los valientes y les dio esta orden: «Id y pasad a cuchillo a los habitantes de Yabés de Galaad, incluidos las mujeres y los niños.
11 And this shall be what you ought to do: “Everyone of the male gender, as well as all the women who have known men, shall be put to death. But the virgins you shall reserve.”	11 Esto es lo que habéis de hacer: Consagraréis al anatema a todo varón y a toda mujer que haya conocido varón, pero dejaréis con vida a las doncellas». Así lo hicieron.
12 And four hundred virgins, who had not known the bed of a man, were found from Jabesh-Gilead. And they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, in the land of Canaan.	12 Entre los habitantes de Yabés de Galaad encontraron cuatrocientas muchachas vírgenes que no habían conocido varón y las llevaron al campamento (de Silo, que está en el país de Canaán).
13 And they sent messengers to the sons of Benjamin, who were at the rock of Rimmon, and they instructed them, so that they would receive them in peace.	13 Toda la comunidad mandó emisarios a los benjaminitas que estaban en la Peña de Rimmón para hacer las paces.
14 And the sons of Benjamin went, at that time, and wives were given to them from the daughters of Jabesh-Gilead. But others were not found, whom they might give in a similar manner.	14 Volvió entonces Benjamín. Les dieron las mujeres de Yabés de Galaad que habían quedado con vida, pero no hubo suficientes para todos.
15 And all of Israel was very saddened, and they did penance for destroying one tribe out of Israel.	15 El pueblo se compadeció de Benjamín, pues Yahveh había abierto una brecha entre las tribus de Israel.
16 And those greater by birth said: “What shall we do with the remainder, those who have not received wives? For all the females of Benjamin have been cut down,	16 Decían los ancianos de la comunidad: «¿Qué podemos hacer para proporcionar mujeres a los que quedan, pues las mujeres de Benjamín han sido exterminadas?»
17 and we must take great care, and make provision with a very great diligence, so that one tribe may not be wiped away from Israel.	17 Y añadían: «¿Cómo conservar un resto a Benjamín para que no sea borrada una tribu de Israel?
18 As for our own daughters, we are not able to give them, being bound by an oath and a curse, when we said, ‘Accursed is he who will give any of his daughters to Benjamin as a wife.’ ”	18 Porque nosotros no podemos darles nuestras hijas en matrimonio». Es que los israelitas habían pronunciado este juramento: «Maldito sea el que dé mujer a Benjamín».
19 And they took counsel, and they said, “Behold, there is a yearly solemnity of the Lord at Shiloh, which is situated to the north of the city of Bethel, and on the eastern side of the way that one takes from Bethel to Shechem, and to the south of the town of Lebonah.”	19 Pero se dijeron: «Es ahora la fiesta de Yahveh, la que se celebra todos los años en Silo». (La ciudad está al norte de Betel, al oriente de la calzada que sube de Betel a Siquem y al sur de Leboná.)
20 And they instructed the sons of Benjamin, and they said: “Go, and hide in the vineyards.	20 Dieron esta orden a los benjaminitas: «Id a poner una emboscada entre las viñas.
21 And when you will have seen daughters of Shiloh being led out to dance, according to custom, go forth suddenly from the vineyards, and let each one seize one wife from among them, and travel into the land of Benjamin.	21 Estaréis alerta, y cuando las muchachas de Silo salgan para danzar en corro, saldréis de las viñas y raptaréis cada uno una mujer de entre las muchachas de Silo y os iréis a la tierra de Benjamín.
22 And when their fathers and brothers arrive, and they begin to complain against you and to argue, we will say to them: ‘Take pity on them. For they have not seized them by right of war or conquest. Instead, begging to receive them, you did not give them, and so the sin was on your part.’ ”	22 Si sus padres o sus hermanos vienen a querellarse contra vosotros, les diremos: “Hacednos el favor de perdonarles, pues no hemos podido tomar cada uno una mujer en el combate; porque no sois vosotros los que se las habéis dado, porque entonces seríais culpables».
23 And so the sons of Benjamin did just as they had been ordered. And according to their number, they seized for themselves one wife each, out of those who were led out dancing. And they went into their own possession, and they built up their cities, and they lived in them.	23 Así lo hicieron los benjaminitas y se llevaron tantas mujeres cuantos eran ellos de entre las danzarinas que raptaron; luego se fueron, volvieron a su heredad, reedificaron las ciudades y se establecieron en ellas.
24 The sons of Israel also returned, according to their tribes and families, to their tents. In those days, there was no king in Israel. Instead, each one did what seemed right to himself.	24 Los israelitas se marcharon entonces de allí cada uno a su tribu y a su clan y partieron de allí cada uno a su heredad.
	25 Por aquel tiempo no había rey en Israel y cada uno hacía lo que le parecía bien.