Judges 21
Commentary from 2 fathers
And the people came to Baethel, and sat there until evening before God: and they lifted up their voice and wept with a great weeping;
καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ λαὸς εἰς Βαιθὴλ καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐκεῖ ἕως ἑσπέρας ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ᾖραν φωνὴν αὐτῶν καὶ ἔκλαυσαν κλαυθμὸν μέγαν
И҆ прїидо́ша лю́дїе въ веѳи́ль и҆ сѣдѣ́ша та́мѡ до ве́чера пред̾ бг҃омъ: и҆ воздвиго́ша гла́съ сво́й, и҆ пла́кашасѧ пла́чемъ ве́лїимъ, и҆ реко́ша:
2–4The end of the war was also the end of their wrath, and anger turned to sorrow. Then, putting off their armor, the men of Israel met together and wept much and celebrated a fast, grieving that one tribe of their brothers had perished and a strong band of people had been wiped out.
Letter 33
and said, Wherefore, O Lord God of Israel, has this come to pass, that to-day one tribe should be counted [as missing] from Israel?
καὶ εἶπαν· εἰς τί, Κύριε Θεὲ ᾿Ισραήλ, ἐγενήθη αὕτη τοῦ ἐπισκεπῆναι σήμερον ἀπὸ ᾿Ισραὴλ φυλὴν μίαν;
вскꙋ́ю, гдⷭ҇и бж҃е і҆и҃левъ, бы́сть си́це дне́сь во і҆и҃ли, є҆́же ѡ҆скꙋдѣ́ти ѿ і҆и҃лѧ пле́мени є҆ди́номꙋ;
And it came to pass on the morrow that the people rose up early, and built there an altar, and offered up whole-burnt-offerings and peace offerings.
καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἐπαύριον καὶ ὤρθρισεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον, καὶ ἀνήνεγκαν ὁλοκαυτώσεις καὶ τελείας.
И҆ бы́сть на ᲂу҆́трїѧ, и҆ ѡ҆бꙋ́трѣша лю́дїе, и҆ согради́ша та́мѡ ѻ҆лта́рь, и҆ вознесо́ша всесожже́нїе спасе́нїѧ, и҆ реко́ша сы́нове і҆и҃лєвы:
And the children of Israel said, Who of all the tribes of Israel, went not up in the congregation to the Lord? for there was a great oath concerning those who went not up to the Lord to Massephath, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
καὶ εἶπαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραήλ· τίς οὐκ ἀνέβη ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀπὸ πασῶν φυλῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸς Κύριον; ὅτι ὁ ὅρκος μέγας ἦν τοῖς οὐκ ἀναβεβηκόσι πρὸς Κύριον εἰς Μασσηφὰθ λέγοντες· θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται.
кто̀ не взы́де въ со́нмъ ѿ всѣ́хъ племе́нъ і҆и҃левыхъ ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ; Ꙗ҆́кѡ вели́ка клѧ́тва бѧ́ше не вше́дшымъ ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ въ массифꙋ̀, глаго́люще: сме́ртїю да ᲂу҆́мретъ.
And the children of Israel relented toward Benjamin their brother, and said, To-day one tribe is cut off from Israel.
καὶ παρεκλήθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸς Βενιαμὶν ἀδελφὸν αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπαν· ἐξεκόπη σήμερον φυλὴ μία ἀπὸ ᾿Ισραήλ·
И҆ ᲂу҆мили́шасѧ сы́нове і҆и҃лєвы ѡ҆ венїамі́нѣ бра́тѣ свое́мъ, и҆ реко́ша: и҆зсѣ́чено дне́сь є҆ди́но пле́мѧ ѿ і҆и҃лѧ:
They had warred rightly against the authors of the crime because of the cost of the sin, but the people had turned unhappily against their own flesh and each was afflicted with civil war. The outpouring of tears moved their minds to compassion and stirred their feelings; the plan conceived in anger was gone.
Letter 33
What shall we do for wives for the rest that remain? whereas we have sworn by the Lord, not to give them of our daughters for wives.
τί ποιήσωμεν αὐτοῖς τοῖς περισσοῖς τοῖς ὑπολειφθεῖσιν εἰς γυναῖκας; καὶ ἡμεῖς ὠμόσαμεν ἐν Κυρίῳ τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων ἡμῶν εἰς γυναῖκας.
что̀ сотвори́мъ ѡ҆ста́вшымсѧ ѡ҆ жена́хъ; и҆ мы̀ клѧ́хомсѧ гдⷭ҇емъ не да́ти и҆̀мъ ѿ дще́рей на́шихъ въ жєны̀.
And they said, What one [man is there] of the tribes of Israel, who went not up to the Lord to Massephath? and, behold, no man came to the camp from Jabis Galaad to the assembly.
καὶ εἶπαν· τίς εἷς ἀπὸ φυλῶν ᾿Ισραήλ, ὃς οὐκ ἀνέβη πρὸς Κύριον εἰς Μασσηφάθ; καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν ἀπὸ ᾿Ιαβὶς Γαλαὰδ εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.
И҆ реко́ша: кто̀ є҆ди́нъ ѿ племе́нъ і҆и҃левыхъ, и҆́же не взы́де ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ въ массифꙋ̀; И҆ сѐ, ни є҆ди́нъ прїи́де въ по́лкъ ѿ і҆аві́са галаа́дова въ со́нмъ.
And the people were numbered, and there was not there a man from the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad.
καὶ ἐπεσκέπη ὁ λαός, καί οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ οἰκούντων ᾿Ιαβὶς Γαλαάδ.
И҆ соглѧ́даша люді́й, и҆ сѐ, не бѧ́ше та́мѡ мꙋ́жа ѿ живꙋ́щихъ во і҆аві́сѣ галаа́довѣ.
And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the strongest, and they charged them, saying, Go ye and smite the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad with the edge of the sword.
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἐκεῖ ἡ συναγωγὴ δώδεκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν ἀπὸ υἱῶν τῆς δυνάμεως καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς λέγοντες· πορεύεσθε καὶ πατάξατε τοὺς οἰκοῦντας ᾿Ιαβὶς Γαλαὰδ ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας.
И҆ посла́ша та́мѡ со́нмъ двана́десѧть ты́сѧщъ мꙋже́й ѿ сынѡ́въ си́лы и҆ заповѣ́даша и҆̀мъ, глаго́люще: и҆ди́те и҆ и҆збі́йте живꙋ́щыѧ во і҆аві́сѣ галаа́довѣ ѻ҆рꙋ́жїемъ жєны̀ и҆ наро́ды:
And this shall ye do: every male and every woman that has known the lying with man ye shall devote [to destruction], but the virgins ye shall save alive: and they did so.
καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσετε· πᾶν ἄρσεν καὶ πᾶσαν γυναῖκα εὐδυῖαν κοίτην ἄρσενος ἀναθεματιεῖτε, τὰς δὲ παρθένους περιποιήσεσθε. καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως.
и҆ сїѐ сотвори́те: всѧ́къ мꙋ́жескїй по́лъ и҆ всѧ́кꙋ женꙋ̀, позна́вшꙋю ло́же мꙋ́жеско, побїе́те: дѣви̑цы же снабди́те. И҆ сотвори́ша та́кѡ.
And they found among the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad four hundred young virgins, who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them to Selom in the land of Chanaan.
καὶ εὗρον ἀπὸ οἰκούντων ᾿Ιαβὶς Γαλαὰδ τετρακοσίας νεάνιδας παρθένους, αἵτινες οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἄνδρα εἰς κοίτην ἄρσενος, καὶ ἤνεγκαν αὐτὰς εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν εἰς Σηλὼμ τὴν ἐν γῇ Χαναάν.
И҆ ѡ҆брѣто́ша ѿ живꙋ́щихъ во і҆аві́сѣ галаа́довѣ четы́ре ста̑ ѻ҆трокови́цъ дѣ́въ, ꙗ҆̀же не позна́ша ло́жа мꙋ́жеска: и҆ приведо́ша ѧ҆̀ въ по́лкъ въ силѡ́мъ, и҆́же є҆́сть въ землѝ ханаа́ни.
And all the congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin in the rock Remmon, and invited them to [make] peace.
καὶ ἀπέστειλαν πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ καὶ ἐλάλησαν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Βενιαμὶν ἐν τῇ πέτρᾳ Ῥεμμὼν καὶ ἐκάλεσαν αὐτοὺς εἰς εἰρήνην.
И҆ посла́ша ве́сь со́нмъ и҆ глаго́лаша къ сынѡ́мъ венїамі́нѡвымъ, и҆̀же въ ка́мени реммѡ́ни, и҆ призва́ша и҆̀хъ съ ми́ромъ.
Sending legates to the six hundred men of Benjamin, who for four months guarded themselves on the top of sheer rocks and by the desert's barrenness, which was dangerous for a mass of attackers, they lamented their common hardship in losing their fellow tribesmen, relatives and allies. Yet the hope of renewing the tribe was not utterly destroyed, and they consulted together how they might agree on a pledge of faith and one tribe not perish, severed from the body.
Letter 33
And Benjamin returned to the children of Israel at that time, and the children of Israel gave them the women whom they [had] save alive of the daughters of Jabis Galaad; and they were content.
καὶ ἐπέστρεψε Βενιαμὶν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, καὶ ἔδωκαν αὐτοῖς οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τὰς γυναῖκας, ἃς ἐζωοποίησαν ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων ᾿Ιαβὶς Γαλαάδ· καὶ ἤρεσεν αὐτοῖς οὕτω.
И҆ возврати́сѧ венїамі́нъ къ сынѡ́мъ і҆и҃лєвымъ въ то̀ вре́мѧ, и҆ да́ша и҆̀мъ сы́нове і҆и҃лєвы жєны̀, ꙗ҆̀же жи́во сохрани́ша ѿ дще́рей і҆аві́са галаа́дова: и҆ ᲂу҆го́дно бы́сть и҆̀мъ та́кѡ.
And the people relented for Benjamin, because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
Καὶ ὁ λαὸς παρεκλήθη ἐπὶ τῷ Βενιαμίν, ὅτι ἐποίησε Κύριος διακοπὴν ἐν ταῖς φυλαῖς ᾿Ισραήλ.
И҆ лю́дїе ᲂу҆мили́шасѧ ѡ҆ венїамі́нѣ, ꙗ҆́кѡ сотворѝ гдⷭ҇ь и҆стребле́нїе въ племенѣ́хъ і҆и҃левыхъ.
And the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for them that remain? for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin.
καὶ εἶπον οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῆς συναγωγῆς· τί ποιήσωμεν τοῖς περισσοῖς εἰς γυναῖκας; ὅτι ἠφανίσθη ἀπὸ Βενιαμὶν γυνή.
И҆ реко́ша старѣ̑йшины со́нма: что̀ сотвори́мъ ѡ҆ста́вшымъ ѡ҆ жена́хъ; ꙗ҆́кѡ поги́бе ѿ венїамі́на жена̀:
And they said, [There must be] an inheritance of them that are escaped of Benjamin; and [so] a tribe shall not be destroyed out of Israel.
καὶ εἶπαν· Κληρονομία διασωζομένων τῶν Βενιαμίν, καὶ οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται φυλὴ ἀπὸ ᾿Ισραήλ·
и҆ ка́кѡ бꙋ́детъ наслѣ́дїе ᲂу҆цѣлѣ́вшихъ ѿ венїамі́на, да не поги́бнетъ пле́мѧ ѿ і҆и҃лѧ;
17–21But relenting at having laid so hard a sentence on their brothers, they moderated their severity so as to give them in marriage those maidens that had lost their parents, whose fathers had been slain for their sins, or to give them the means of finding a wife by a raid. Because of the villainy of so foul a deed, they who had violated another's marriage rights were shown to be unworthy to ask for marriage. But for fear that one tribe might perish from the people, they connived at the deceit.
On the Duties of the Clergy 3.19.115
For we shall not be able to give them wives of our daughters, because we swore among the children of Israel, saying, Cursed [is] he that gives a wife to Benjamin.
ὅτι ἡμεῖς οὐ δυνησόμεθα δοῦναι αὐτοῖς γυναῖκας ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων ἡμῶν, ὅτι ὠμόσαμεν ἐν υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ λέγοντες· ἐπικατάρατος ὁ διδοὺς γυναῖκα τῷ Βενιαμίν.
и҆ мы̀ не возмо́жемъ да́ти и҆̀мъ же́нъ ѿ дще́рей на́шихъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ клѧ́шасѧ сы́нове і҆и҃лєвы, глаго́люще: про́клѧтъ даѧ́й женꙋ̀ венїамі́нꙋ.
The sentence, further, was that none of the people of the ancestors should give his daughter in marriage to [members of Benjamin's tribe]. This was confirmed by a solemn oath.
On the Duties of the Clergy 3.19.115
And they said, Lo! now [there is] feast of the Lord from year to year in Selom, which is on the north of Baethel, eastward on the way that goes up from Baethel to Sychem, and from the south of Lebona.
καὶ εἶπαν· ἰδοὺ δὴ ἑορτὴ Κυρίου ἐν Σηλὼμ ἀφ᾿ ἡμερῶν εἰς ἡμέρας, ἥ ἐστιν ἀπὸ βορρᾶ τῆς Βαιθὴλ κατ᾿ ἀνατολάς ἡλίου ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς ἀναβαινούσης ἀπό Βαιθὴλ εἰς Συχέμ καὶ ἀπὸ νότου τῆς Λεβωνά.
И҆ реко́ша: сѐ, пра́здникъ гдⷭ҇ень въ силѡ́мѣ ѿ дні́й во дни̑, и҆́же є҆́сть ѿ сѣ́вера веѳи́лѧ, на восто́къ со́лнца на пꙋтѝ восходѧ́щемъ ѿ веѳи́лѧ въ сѷхе́мъ, и҆ ѿ ю҆́га левѡ́ны.
And they charged the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;
καὶ ἐνετείλαντο τοῖς υἱοῖς Βενιαμὶν λέγοντες· πορεύεσθε καὶ ἐνεδρεύσατε ἐν τοῖς ἀμπελῶσι·
И҆ заповѣ́даша сынѡ́мъ венїамі̑нимъ, глаго́люще: и҆ди́те и҆ засѧ́дите въ вїногра́дѣхъ,
and ye shall see; and lo! if there come out the daughters of the inhabitants of Selom to dance in dances, then shall ye go out of the vineyards and seize for yourselves every man a wife of the daughters of Selom, and go ye into the land of Benjamin.
καὶ ὄψεσθε καὶ ἰδού, ἐὰν ἐξέλθωσιν αἱ θυγατέρες τῶν οἰκούντων Σηλὼ χορεύειν ἐν τοῖς χοροῖς, καὶ ἐξελεύσεσθε ἐκ τῶν ἀμπελώνων καὶ ἁρπάσατε ἑαυτοῖς ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα, ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων Σηλὼμ καὶ πορεύεσθε εἰς γῆν Βενιαμίν.
и҆ ᲂу҆́зрите, и҆ сѐ, є҆гда̀ и҆зы́дꙋтъ дщє́ри живꙋ́щихъ въ силѡ́мѣ плѧса́ти въ ли́ки, да и҆зы́дете и҆з̾ вїногра́дѡвъ и҆ восхи́тите мꙋ́жъ женꙋ̀ себѣ̀ ѿ дще́рей силѡ́млихъ, и҆ и҆ди́те на зе́млю венїамі́ню:
And it shall come to pass, when their fathers or their brethren come to dispute with us, that we will say to them, Grant them freely to us, for we have not taken every man his wife in the battle: because ye did not give to them according to the occasion, ye transgressed.
καὶ ἔσται ὅταν ἔλθωσιν οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν ἢ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν κρίνεσθαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἐροῦμεν αὐτοῖς· ἔλεος ποιήσατε ἡμῖν αὐτάς, ὅτι οὐκ ἐλάβομεν ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ παρατάξει, ὅτι οὐχ ὑμεῖς ἐδώκατε αὐτοῖς· ὡς κλῆροςπλημμελήσατε.
и҆ бꙋ́детъ є҆гда̀ прїи́дꙋтъ ѻ҆тцы̀ и҆́хъ и҆лѝ бра́тїѧ и҆́хъ сꙋди́тисѧ къ на́мъ, и҆ рече́мъ и҆̀мъ: поми́лꙋйте на́съ и҆́ми, ꙗ҆́кѡ не взѧ̀ мꙋ́жъ жены̀ своеѧ̀ въ полцѣ̀: поне́же вы̀ не да́ли є҆стѐ и҆̀мъ ꙗ҆́кѡ жре́бїй, согрѣши́сте.
And the children of Benjamin did so; and they took wives according to their number from the dancers whom they seized: and they went and returned to their inheritance, and built the cities, and dwelt in them.
καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως οἱ υἱοὶ Βενιαμὶν καὶ ἔλαβον γυναῖκας εἰς ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῶν χορευουσῶν, ὧν ἥρπασαν· καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτῶν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τὰς πόλεις καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐν αὐταῖς.
И҆ сотвори́ша та́кѡ сы́нове венїамі̑ни, и҆ поѧ́ша жєны̀ по числꙋ̀ своемꙋ̀ ѿ плѧ́шꙋщихъ, ꙗ҆̀же восхи́тиша: и҆ ѿидо́ша и҆ возврати́шасѧ въ наслѣ́дїе своѐ, и҆ созда́ша гра́ды и҆ всели́шасѧ въ ни́хъ.
And the children of Israel went thence at that time every man to his tribe and his kindred; and they went thence every man to his inheritance.
καὶ περιεπάτησαν ἐκεῖθεν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἀνὴρ εἰς φυλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς συγγένειαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξῆλθον ἐκεῖθεν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ.
И҆ ѿидо́ша ѿтꙋ́дꙋ сы́нове і҆и҃лєвы въ то̀ вре́мѧ, мꙋ́жъ во пле́мѧ своѐ и҆ въ ро́дъ сво́й: и҆ и҆зы́де ѿтꙋ́дꙋ мꙋ́жъ въ наслѣ́дїе своѐ. И҆ въ ты̑ѧ дни̑ не бѧ́ше царѧ̀ во і҆и҃ли: мꙋ́жъ є҆́же ᲂу҆го́дно пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма є҆гѡ̀, творѧ́ше.
And in those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own sight.
ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ· ἀνὴρ τὸ εὐθὲς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐποίει.
After a long time spent in this state of indecision and while I was still busily searching for the cause I have mentioned, there came to my mind the book of Judges, which tells how each man did what was right in his own eyes and gives the reason for this in these words: “In those days there was no king in Israel.” With these words in mind, then, I applied also to the present circumstances that explanation which, incredible and frightening as it may be, is quite truly pertinent when it is understood; for never before has there arisen such discord and quarreling as now among the members of the church in consequence of their turning away from the one, great and true God and only King of the universe. Each person, indeed, abandons the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and arrogates to himself authority in dealing with certain questions, making his own private rules and preferring to exercise leadership in opposition to the Lord to being led by the Lord.
Preface on the Judgment of God
Now the children of Israel swore in Massephath, saying, No man of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife.
ΚΑΙ οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ὤμοσαν ἐν Μασσηφὰθ λέγοντες· ἀνὴρ ἐξ ἡμῶν οὐ δώσει θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ τῷ Βενιαμὶν εἰς γυναῖκα.
И҆ сы́нове і҆и҃лєвы клѧ́шасѧ въ массифѣ̀, глаго́люще: мꙋ́жъ ѿ на́съ да не да́стъ венїамі́нꙋ дще́ре своеѧ̀ въ женꙋ̀.