Judges
Chapter21
11NowthemenofIsraelhadswornatMizpahthatnoneofthemwouldgivehisdaughterinmarriagetoanyonefromBenjamin.
以色列人曾在米兹帕起誓说：＂我们中谁也不可把自己的女儿嫁给本雅明人为妻。＂
2SothepeoplewenttoBethelandremainedtherebeforeGoduntilevening,raisingtheirvoicesinbitterlament.
民众来到贝特耳，在天主面前，坐在那里，放声大哭，直到晚上；
3Theysaid,＂LORD,GodofIsrael,whyhasitcometopassinIsraelthattodayonetribeofIsraelshouldbelacking?＂
然后说：＂上主以色列的天主！为什么在以色列中间发生了这事，今日竟使以色列中少了一支派？＂
4Earlythenextdaythepeoplebuiltanaltarthereandofferedholocaustsandpeaceofferings.
次日，百姓一早起来，在那里筑了一座祭坛，献了全燔祭与和平祭。
5ThentheIsraelitesasked,＂ArethereanyamongallthetribesofIsraelwhodidnotcomeuptotheLORDfortheassembly?＂FortheyhadtakenasolemnoaththatanyonewhodidnotgouptotheLORDatMizpahshouldbeputtodeathwithoutfail.
以后，以色列子民问说：＂以色列众支派中，有谁没有上到上主面前，参加集会呢？＂因为他们先前对于那些凡不上米兹帕到上主面前来的人，曾发过严誓说：＂死无赦！＂
62TheIsraelitesweredisconsolateovertheirbrotherBenjaminandsaid,＂TodayoneofthetribesofIsraelhasbeencutoff.
以色列子民对他们的弟兄本雅明起了怜悯之心说：＂今天以色列绝了一支派。
7Whatcanwedoaboutwivesforthesurvivors,sincewehaveswornbytheLORDnottogivethemanyofourdaughtersinmarriage?＂
我们曾指着上主起过誓，决不将我们的女儿给他们为妻，那么，我们怎样给所剩下的人娶妻呢？＂
8AndwhentheyaskedwhetheranyoneamongthetribesofIsraelhadnotcomeuptotheLORDinMizpah,theyfoundthatnoneofthemenofJabesh-gileadhadcometotheencampmentfortheassembly.
他们又问说：＂以色列众支派中，有那一支派没有上米兹帕来到上主面前呢？＂看，由基肋阿得雅贝士中没有一人入营，参加集会。
9Arollcallofthearmyestablishedthatnoneoftheinhabitantsofthatcitywerepresent.
的确，检阅百姓的时候，没有一个基肋阿得雅贝士的居民在场。
10Thecommunity,therefore,senttwelvethousandwarriorswithorderstogotoJabesh-gileadandputthosewholivedtheretothesword,includingthewomenandchildren.
因此会众打发一万二千勇士到那里去，吩咐他们说：＂你们去用刀屠杀基肋阿得雅贝士的居民，连妇女孩子都在内。
113Theyweretoldtoincludeunderthebanallmalesandeverywomanwhowasnotstillavirgin.
你们要这样作；所以男子和与男子同过房的妇女，尽行杀掉，但要保留处女。＂他们就这样作了。
12FindingamongtheinhabitantsofJabesh-gileadfourhundredyoungvirgins,whohadhadnorelationswithmen,theybroughtthemtothecampatShilohinthelandofCanaan.
他们在基肋阿得雅贝士居民之中，寻得了四百个未曾认识过男子，也未曾与男子同过房的少年处女，就把她们带到客纳罕地史罗营里。
13ThenthewholecommunitysentamessagetotheBenjaminitesattherockRimmon,offeringthempeace.
全会众又打发人往黎孟岩石去，与住在那里的本雅明子孙谈判，与他们讲和。
14WhenBenjaminreturnedatthattime,theygavethemaswivesthewomenofJabesh-gileadwhomtheyhadspared;buttheseprovedtobenotenoughforthem.
本雅明子孙当时就回来了，会众就把基肋阿得雅贝士女子中所保留的少女，给他们为妻，但是数目不足。
154ThepeoplewerestilldisconsolateoverBenjaminbecausetheLORDhadmadeabreachamongthetribesofIsrael.
民众仍为本雅明人伤心难过，因为上主使以色列支派中有了缺陷。
16Andtheeldersofthecommunitysaid,＂Whatshallwedoforwivesforthesurvivors?ForeverywomaninBenjaminhasbeenputtodeath.＂
会众的长老说：＂本雅明的妇女既然都消灭了，我们怎样给所剩下的人娶妻呢？＂
17Theysaid,＂ThoseofBenjaminwhosurvivemusthaveheirs,elseoneoftheIsraelitetribeswillbewipedout.
又说：＂本雅民的遗民该有承嗣，免得以色列中泯没一支。
185Yetwecannotgivethemanyofourdaughtersinmarriage,becausetheIsraeliteshavesworn,'CursedbehewhogivesawomantoBenjamin!'＂
但是，我们不能将自己的女儿给他们为妻，因为以色列曾起誓说：谁把女儿给本雅明人是可诅咒的！＂
19ThentheythoughtoftheyearlyfeastoftheLORDatShiloh,northofBethel,eastofthehighwaythatgoesupfromBetheltoShechem,andsouthofLebonah.
有人说：＂看，年年在史罗举行上主的庆节。＂──史罗位于贝特耳之北，贝特耳至舍根大路之东，肋波纳之南。
20AndtheyinstructedtheBenjaminites,＂Goandlieinwaitinthevineyards.
于是他们给本雅明子孙出主意说：＂你们往葡萄园去，藏在那里。
21WhenyouseethegirlsofShilohcomeouttodotheirdancing,leavethevineyardsandeachofyouseizeoneofthegirlsofShilohforawife,andgotothelandofBenjamin.
等到你们看见史罗的童女出来列队跳舞，你们就从葡萄园中出来，从史罗的女儿中，各抢一个为妻，然后回本雅明地方去。
22Whentheirfathersortheirbrotherscometocomplaintous,weshallsaytothem,'Releasethemtousasakindness,sincewedidnottakeawomanapieceinthewar.Hadyouyourselvesgiventhemthesewives,youwouldnowbeguilty.'＂
她们的父亲或兄弟若是出来与我们争论，我们就说：求你们看我们的情面，恩待这些人，因为他们战场上没有得到女子为妻；况且又不是你们将女儿交给他们；若是你们给的，那就有罪了。＂
23TheBenjaminitesdidthis;theycarriedoffawifeforeachofthemfromtheirraidonthedancers,andwentbacktotheirownterritory,wheretheyrebuiltandoccupiedthecities.
本雅明子孙就这样作了：按数目抢跳舞的女子，各娶一个为妻；以后他们就走了，回到自己的地业，重建城邑，住在那里。
24AlsoatthattimetheIsraelitesdispersed;eachofthemleftforhisownheritageinhisownclanandtribe.
以后以色列子民从那里各回自己的支派和家族，从那里各回自己的家乡。
256InthosedaystherewasnokinginIsrael;everyonedidwhathethoughtbest.
那时，在以色列没有君王，各人任意行事。
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Footnotes(注解)
1[1-3]TheangeroftheIsraelitesledthemtodestroytheirbrethren,theBenjaminites.Havingrealizedtheirgoal,however,theyweresoonfilledwithdismay,andsoughttorestorethetribetheyhadallbutexterminated.
2[6-9]ThisaccountissummarizedintheparallelpassageinJudges21:2-5.
3[11]Undertheban:seenoteonNumbers21:3.
4[15]Hadmadeabreach:whatishereattributedtoGodwasinrealitythefreeanddeliberateactoftheIsraelitesandhappenedonlybythepermissivewillofGod.Theancientsattributedtothefirstprimarycausewhatismoredirectlyduetosecondarycauses.
5[18]Regardlessoftheseriousconsequencesoftheirvow,theIsraelitesconsideredthemselvesobligedtofulfillit;cfJudges11:31,35-36,39.
6[25]CfJudges17:6;18:1;19:1.Theversegivesthereasonwhythelawlessnessoftheperiodofjudges,andtheeventsdescribedherein,werepossible.