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

אוְאִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נִשְׁבַּ֥ע בַּמִּצְפָּ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ לֹא־יִתֵּ֥ן בִּתּ֛וֹ לְבִנְיָמִ֖ן לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

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

בוַיָּבֹ֤א הָעָם֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ שָׁם֙ עַד־הָעֶ֔רֶב לִפְנֵ֖י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ קוֹלָ֔ם וַיִּבְכּ֖וּ בְּכִ֥י גָדֽוֹל׃

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

גוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ לָמָ֗ה יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הָ֥יְתָה זֹ֖את בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְהִפָּקֵ֥ד הַיּ֛וֹם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שֵׁ֥בֶט אֶחָֽד׃

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

דוַֽיְהִי֙ מִֽמׇּחֳרָ֔ת וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ הָעָ֔ם וַיִּבְנוּ־שָׁ֖ם מִזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיַּעֲל֥וּ עֹל֖וֹת וּשְׁלָמִֽים׃

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

הוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִ֠י אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־עָלָ֧ה בַקָּהָ֛ל מִכׇּל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּי֩ הַשְּׁבוּעָ֨ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֜ה הָיְתָ֗ה לַ֠אֲשֶׁ֠ר לֹא־עָלָ֨ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֧ה הַמִּצְפָּ֛ה לֵאמֹ֖ר מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

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

ווַיִּנָּֽחֲמוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־בִּנְיָמִ֖ן אָחִ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ נִגְדַּ֥ע הַיּ֛וֹם שֵׁ֥בֶט אֶחָ֖ד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

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־נַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם לַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים לְנָשִׁ֑ים וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ נִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּ בַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לְבִלְתִּ֛י תֵּת־לָהֶ֥ם מִבְּנוֹתֵ֖ינוּ לְנָשִֽׁים׃

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

חוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מִ֗י אֶחָד֙ מִשִּׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־עָלָ֥ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה וְ֠הִנֵּ֠ה לֹ֣א בָא־אִ֧ישׁ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה מִיָּבֵ֥ישׁ גִּלְעָ֖ד אֶל־הַקָּהָֽל׃

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

טוַיִּתְפָּקֵ֖ד הָעָ֑ם וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֵֽין־שָׁם֙ אִ֔ישׁ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֖י יָבֵ֥שׁ גִּלְעָֽד׃

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־שָׁ֣ם הָעֵדָ֗ה שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֣י הֶחָ֑יִל וַיְצַוּ֨וּ אוֹתָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר לְ֠כ֠וּ וְהִכִּיתֶ֞ם אֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֨י יָבֵ֤שׁ גִּלְעָד֙ לְפִי־חֶ֔רֶב וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְהַטָּֽף׃

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

יאוְזֶ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ כׇּל־זָכָ֗ר וְכׇל־אִשָּׁ֛ה יֹדַ֥עַת מִשְׁכַּב־זָכָ֖ר תַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃

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

יבוַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י ׀ יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֗ד אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ נַעֲרָ֣ה בְתוּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־יָדְעָ֛ה אִ֖ישׁ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב זָכָ֑ר וַיָּבִ֨אוּ אוֹתָ֤ם אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃

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

יגוַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ כׇּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּסֶ֣לַע רִמּ֑וֹן וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם שָׁלֽוֹם׃

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

ידוַיָּ֤שׇׁב בִּנְיָמִן֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ הַנָּשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר חִיּ֔וּ מִנְּשֵׁ֖י יָבֵ֣שׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד וְלֹא־מָצְא֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן׃

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

טווְהָעָ֥ם נִחָ֖ם לְבִנְיָמִ֑ן כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה פֶּ֖רֶץ בְּשִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

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

טזוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ זִקְנֵ֣י הָֽעֵדָ֔ה מַה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים לְנָשִׁ֑ים כִּֽי־נִשְׁמְדָ֥ה מִבִּנְיָמִ֖ן אִשָּֽׁה׃

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

יזוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ יְרֻשַּׁ֥ת פְּלֵיטָ֖ה לְבִנְיָמִ֑ן וְלֹא־יִמָּחֶ֥ה שֵׁ֖בֶט מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

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

יחוַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ לֹ֥א נוּכַ֛ל לָתֵת־לָהֶ֥ם נָשִׁ֖ים מִבְּנוֹתֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־נִשְׁבְּע֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אָר֕וּר נֹתֵ֥ן אִשָּׁ֖ה לְבִנְיָמִֽן׃

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

יטוַיֹּאמְר֡וּ הִנֵּה֩ חַג־יְהֹוָ֨ה בְּשִׁל֜וֹ מִיָּמִ֣ים ׀ יָמִ֗ימָה אֲשֶׁ֞ר מִצְּפ֤וֹנָה לְבֵֽית־אֵל֙ מִזְרְחָ֣ה הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ לִ֨מְסִלָּ֔ה הָעֹלָ֥ה מִבֵּֽית־אֵ֖ל שְׁכֶ֑מָה וּמִנֶּ֖גֶב לִלְבוֹנָֽה׃

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

כ(ויצו) [וַיְצַוּ֕וּ] אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר לְכ֖וּ וַאֲרַבְתֶּ֥ם בַּכְּרָמִֽים׃

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

כאוּרְאִיתֶ֗ם וְ֠הִנֵּ֠ה אִם־יֵ֨צְא֥וּ בְנוֹת־שִׁילוֹ֮ לָח֣וּל בַּמְּחֹלוֹת֒ וִֽיצָאתֶם֙ מִן־הַכְּרָמִ֔ים וַחֲטַפְתֶּ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם אִ֥ישׁ אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ מִבְּנ֣וֹת שִׁיל֑וֹ וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖ם אֶ֥רֶץ בִּנְיָמִֽן׃

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

כבוְהָיָ֡ה כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣אוּ אֲבוֹתָם֩ א֨וֹ אֲחֵיהֶ֜ם (לרוב) [לָרִ֣יב ׀] אֵלֵ֗ינוּ וְאָמַ֤רְנוּ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ חׇנּ֣וּנוּ אוֹתָ֔ם כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לָקַ֛חְנוּ אִ֥ישׁ אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה כִּ֣י לֹ֥א אַתֶּ֛ם נְתַתֶּ֥ם לָהֶ֖ם כָּעֵ֥ת תֶּאְשָֽׁמוּ׃

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

כגוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן וַיִּשְׂא֤וּ נָשִׁים֙ לְמִסְפָּרָ֔ם מִן־הַמְּחֹלְל֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּזָ֑לוּ וַיֵּלְכ֗וּ וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ אֶל־נַ֣חֲלָתָ֔ם וַיִּבְנוּ֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ בָּהֶֽם׃

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

כדוַיִּתְהַלְּכ֨וּ מִשָּׁ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא אִ֥ישׁ לְשִׁבְט֖וֹ וּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹ וַיֵּצְא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ לְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃

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

כהבַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם אֵ֥ין מֶ֖לֶךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִ֛ישׁ הַיָּשָׁ֥ר בְּעֵינָ֖יו יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃