been entertained； under great affliction at what had happened；
and was very sorrowful upon occasion of what she had suffered；
and durst not look her husband in the face for shame； for she
concluded that he would never forgive her for what she had done；
so she fell down； and gave up the ghost： but her husband supposed
that his wife was only fast asleep； and； thinking nothing of a
more melancholy nature had happened； endeavored to raise her up；
resolving to speak comfortably to her； since she did not
voluntarily expose herself to these men's lust； but was forced
away to their house； but as soon as he perceived she was dead； he
acted as prudently as the greatness of his misfortunes would
admit； and laid his dead wife upon the beast； and carried her
home； and cutting her； limb by limb； into twelve pieces； he sent
them to every tribe； and gave it in charge to those that carried
them； to inform the tribes of those that were the causes of his
wife's death； and of the violence they had offered to her。
9。 Upon this the people were greatly disturbed at what they saw；
and at what they heard； as never having had the experience of
such a thing before； so they gathered themselves to Shiloh； out
of a prodigious and a just anger； and assembling in a great
congregation before the tabernacle； they immediately resolved to
take arms； and to treat the inhabitants of Gibeah as enemies； but
the senate restrained them from doing so； and persuaded them；
that they ought not so hastily to make war upon people of the
same nation with them； before they discoursed them by words
concerning the accusation laid against them； it being part of
their law； that they should not bring an army against foreigners
themselves； when they appear to have been injurious； without
sending an ambassage first； and trying thereby whether they will
repent or not： and accordingly they exhorted them to do what they
ought to do in obedience to their laws； that is； to send to the
inhabitants of Gibeah； to know whether they would deliver up the
offenders to them； and if they deliver them up； to rest satisfied
with the punishment of those offenders； but if they despised the
message that was sent them； to punish them by taking； up arms
against them。 Accordingly they sent to the inhabitants of Gibeah；
and accused the young men of the crimes committed in the affair
of the Levite's wife； and required of them those that had done
what was contrary to the law； that they might be punished； as
having justly deserved to die for what they had done； but the
inhabitants of Gibeah would not deliver up the young men； and
thought it too reproachful to them； out of fear of war； to submit
to other men's demands upon them； vaunting themselves to be no
way inferior to any in war； neither in their number nor in
courage。 The rest of their tribe were also making great
preparation for war； for they were so insolently mad as also to
resolve to repel force by force。
10。 When it was related to the Israelites what the inhabitants of
Gibeah had resolved upon； they took their oath that no one of
them would give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite； but make
war with greater fury against them than we have learned our
forefathers made war against the Canaanites； and sent out
presently an army of four hundred thousand against them； while
the Benjamites' army…was twenty…five thousand and six hundred；
five hundred of whom were excellent at slinging stones with their
left hands； insomuch that when the battle was joined at Gibeah
the Benjamites beat the Israelites； and of them there fell two
thousand men； and probably more had been destroyed had not the
night came on and prevented it； and broken off the fight； so the
Benjamites returned to the city with joy； and the Israelites
returned to their camp in a great fright at what had happened。 On
the next day； when they fought again； the Benjamites beat them；
and eighteen thousand of the Israelites were slain； and the rest
deserted their camp out of fear of a greater slaughter。 So they
came to Bethel； （13） a city that was near their camp； and fasted
on the next day； and besought God； by Phineas the high priest；
that his wrath against them might cease； and that he would be
satisfied with these two defeats； and give them the victory and
power over their enemies。 Accordingly God promised them so to do；
by the prophesying of Phineas。
11。 When therefore they had divided the army into two parts； they
laid the one half of them in ambush about the city Gibeah by
night； while the other half attacked the Benjamites； who retiring
upon the assault； the Benjamites pursued them； while the Hebrews
retired by slow degrees； as very desirous to draw them entirely
from the city； and the other followed them as they retired； till
both the old men and the young men that were left in the city； as
too weak to fight； came running out together with them； as
willing to bring their enemies under。 However； when they were a
great way from the city the Hebrews ran away no longer； but
turned back to fight them； and lifted up the signal they had
agreed on to those that lay in ambush； who rose up； and with a
great noise fell upon the enemy。 Now； as soon as ever they
perceived themselves to be deceived； they knew not what to do；
and when they were driven into a certain hollow place which was
in a valley； they were shot at by those that encompassed them；
till they were all destroyed； excepting six hundred； which formed
themselves into a close body of men； and forced their passage
through the midst of their enemies； and fled to the neighboring
mountains； and； seizing upon them； remained there； but the rest
of them； being about twenty…five thousand； were slain。 Then did
the Israelites burn Gibeah； and slew the women； and the males
that were under age； and did the same also to the other cities of
the Benjamites； and； indeed； they were enraged to that degree；
that they sent twelve thousand men out of the army； and gave them
orders to destroy Jabesh Gilead； because it did not join with
them in fighting against the Benjamites。 Accordingly； those that
were sent slew the men of war； with their children and wives；
excepting four hundred virgins。 To such a degree had they
proceeded in their anger； because they not only had the suffering
of the Levite's wife to avenge； but the slaughter of their own
soldiers。
12。 However； they afterward were sorry for the calamity they had
brought upon the Benjamites； and appointed a fast on that
account； although they supposed those men had suffered justly for
their offense against the laws； so they recalled by their
ambassadors those six hundred which had escaped。 These had seated
themselves on a certain rock called Rimmon； which was in the
wilderness。 So the ambassadors lamented not only the disaster
that had befallen the Benjamites； but themselves also； by this
destruction of their kindred； and persuaded them to take it
patiently； and to come and unite with them； and not； so far as in
them lay； to give their suffrage to the utter destruction of the
tribe of Benjamin； and said to them； 〃We give you leave to take
the whole land of Benjamin to yourselves； and as much prey as you
are able to carry away with you。〃 So these men with sorrow
confessed； that what had been done was according to the decree of
God； and had happened for their own wickedness； and assented to
those that invited them； and came down to their own tribe。 The
Israelites also gave them the four hundred virgins of Jabesh
Gilead for wives； but as to the remaining two hundred； they
deliberated about it how they might compass wives enough for
them； and that they might have children by them； and whereas they
had； before the war began； taken an oath； that no one would give
his daughter to wife to a Benjamite； some advised them to have no
regard to what they had sworn； because the oath had not been
taken advisedly and judiciously； but in a passion； and thought
that they should do nothing against God； if they were able to
save a whole tribe which was in danger of perishing； and that
perjury was then a sad and dangerous thing； not when it is done
out of necessity； but when it is done with a wicked intention。
But when the senate were affrighted at the very name of perjury；
a certain person told them that he could show them a way whereby
they might procure the Benjamites wives enough； and yet keep
their oath。 They asked him what his proposal was。 He said； 〃That
three times in a year； when we meet in Shiloh； our wives and our
daughters accompany us： let then the Benjamites be allowed to
steal away； and marry such women as they can catch； while we will
neither incite them nor forbid them； and when their parents take
it ill； and desire us to inflict punishment upon them； we will
tell them； that they were themselves the cause of what had
happened； by neglecting to guard their daughters； and that they
ought not to be over angry at the Benjamites； since that anger
was permitted to rise too high already。〃 So the Israelites were
persuaded to follow this advice； and decreed； That the Benjamites
should be allowed thus to steal themselves wives。 So when the
festival was coming on； these two hundred Benjamites lay in
ambush before the city； by two and three together； and waited for
the coming of the virgins； in the vineyards and other places
where they could lie concealed。 Accordingly the virgins came
along playing； and suspected nothing of what was coming upon
them； and walked after an unguarded manner； so those that laid
scattered in the road； rose up； and caught hold of them： by this
means these Benjamites got them wives； and fell to agriculture；
and took good care to recover their former happy state。 And thus
was this tribe of the Benjamites； after they had been in danger
of entirely perishing； saved in the manner forementioned； by the
wisdom of the Israelites； and accordingly it presently
flourished； and soon increased to be a multitude； and came to
enjoy all other degrees of happiness。 And such was the conclusion
of this war。
CHAPTER 3。
How The Israelites After This Misfortune Grew Wicked And Served
The Assyrians； And How God Delivered Them By Othniel； Who Ruled
Over The Forty Y