今日讀經

各支派聚集在米斯巴

¹於是以色列從但到別是巴，以及住基列地的眾人都出來，如同一人，聚集在米斯巴耶和華面前。Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.

²以色列民的首領，就是各支派的軍長，都站在　神百姓的會中；拿刀的步兵共有四十萬。The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.

³以色列人上到米斯巴，便雅憫人都聽見了。以色列人說：「請你將這件惡事的情由對我們說明。」(Meanwhile the Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?”

⁴那利未人，就是被害之婦人的丈夫，回答說：「我和我的妾到了便雅憫的基比亞住宿。So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.

⁵基比亞人夜間起來，圍了我住的房子，想要殺我，又將我的妾強姦致死。And during the night, the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house. They intended to kill me, but they abused my concubine, and she died.

⁶我就把我妾的屍身切成塊子，使人拿著傳送以色列得為業的全地，因為基比亞人在以色列中行了兇淫醜惡的事。Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.

⁷你們以色列人都當籌劃商議。」Behold, all you Israelites, give your advice and verdict here and now.”

決定攻打基比亞

⁸眾民都起來如同一人，說：「我們連一人都不回自己帳棚、自己房屋去。Then all the people stood as one man and said, “Not one of us will return to his tent or to his house.

⁹我們向基比亞人必這樣行，照所掣的籤去攻擊他們。Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will go against it as the lot dictates.

¹⁰我們要在以色列各支派中，一百人挑取十人，一千人挑取百人，一萬人挑取千人，為民運糧，等大眾到了便雅憫的基比亞，就照基比亞人在以色列中所行的醜事征伐他們。」We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for the army when they go to Gibeah in Benjamin to punish them for the atrocity they have committed in Israel.”

¹¹於是以色列眾人彼此連合如同一人，聚集攻擊那城。So all the men of Israel gathered as one man, united against the city.

便雅憫人不肯交出匪徒

¹²以色列眾支派打發人去，問便雅憫支派的各家說：「你們中間怎麼做了這樣的惡事呢？And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you?

¹³現在你們要將基比亞的那些匪徒交出來，我們好治死他們，從以色列中除掉這惡。」便雅憫人卻不肯聽從他們弟兄以色列人的話。Hand over the wicked men of Gibeah so we can put them to death and purge Israel of this evil.” But the Benjamites refused to heed the voice of their fellow Israelites.

¹⁴便雅憫人從他們的各城裡出來，聚集到了基比亞，要與以色列人打仗。And from their cities they came together at Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites.

¹⁵那時便雅憫人從各城裡點出拿刀的，共有二萬六千；另外還有基比亞人點出七百精兵。On that day the Benjamites mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to the 700 select men of Gibeah.

¹⁶在眾軍之中有揀選的七百精兵，都是左手便利的，能用機弦甩石打人，毫髮不差。Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing.

¹⁷便雅憫人之外，點出以色列人拿刀的，共有四十萬，都是戰士。The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior.

前兩次大敗

¹⁸以色列人就起來，到伯特利去求問　神說：「我們中間誰當首先上去與便雅憫人爭戰呢？」耶和華說：「猶大當先上去。」The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.

¹⁹以色列人早晨起來，對著基比亞安營。The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah.

²⁰以色列人出來，要與便雅憫人打仗，就在基比亞前擺陣。And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah.

²¹便雅憫人就從基比亞出來，當日殺死以色列人二萬二千。And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.

²²以色列人彼此奮勇，仍在頭一日擺陣的地方又擺陣。But the Israelite army took courage and again took their battle positions in the same place where they had arrayed themselves on the first day.

²³未擺陣之先，以色列人上去，在耶和華面前哭號，直到晚上，求問耶和華說：「我們再去與我們弟兄便雅憫人打仗可以不可以？」耶和華說：「可以上去攻擊他們。」They went up and wept before the LORD until evening, inquiring of Him, “Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers the Benjamites?” And the LORD answered, “Go up against them.”

²⁴第二日，以色列人就上前攻擊便雅憫人。On the second day the Israelites advanced against the Benjamites.

²⁵便雅憫人也在這日從基比亞出來，與以色列人接戰，又殺死他們一萬八千，都是拿刀的。That same day the Benjamites came out against them from Gibeah and cut down another 18,000 Israelites, all of them armed with swords.

²⁶以色列眾人就上到伯特利，坐在耶和華面前哭號，當日禁食直到晚上；又在耶和華面前獻燔祭和平安祭。Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.

^27–28那時，　神的約櫃在那裡；亞倫的孫子、以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈侍立在約櫃前。以色列人問耶和華說：「我們當再出去與我們弟兄便雅憫人打仗呢？還是罷兵呢？」耶和華說：「你們當上去，因為明日我必將他們交在你們手中。」And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”

第三次設下伏兵

²⁹以色列人在基比亞的四圍設下伏兵。So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah.

³⁰第三日，以色列人又上去攻擊便雅憫人，在基比亞前擺陣，與前兩次一樣。On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as they had done before.

³¹便雅憫人也出來迎敵，就被引誘離城；在田間兩條路上，一通伯特利，一通基比亞，像前兩次，動手殺死以色列人約有三十個。The Benjamites came out against them and were drawn away from the city. They began to attack the people as before, killing about thirty men of Israel in the fields and on the roads, one of which led up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah.

³²便雅憫人說：「他們仍舊敗在我們面前。」但以色列人說：「我們不如逃跑，引誘他們離開城到路上來。」“We are defeating them as before,” said the Benjamites. But the Israelites said, “Let us retreat and draw them away from the city onto the roads.”

³³以色列眾人都起來，在巴力‧他瑪擺陣，以色列的伏兵從馬利‧迦巴埋伏的地方衝上前去。So all the men of Israel got up from their places and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar, and the Israelites in ambush charged from their positions west of Gibeah.

³⁴有以色列人中的一萬精兵，來到基比亞前接戰，勢派甚是凶猛；便雅憫人卻不知道災禍臨近了。Then 10,000 select men from all Israel made a frontal assault against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce. But the Benjamites did not realize that disaster was upon them.

³⁵耶和華使以色列人殺敗便雅憫人。那日，以色列人殺死便雅憫人二萬五千一百，都是拿刀的。The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.

詐敗誘敵，伏兵攻入基比亞

³⁶於是便雅憫人知道自己敗了。先是以色列人；因為靠著在基比亞前所設的伏兵，就在便雅憫人面前詐敗。Then the Benjamites realized they had been defeated. Now the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because they were relying on the ambush they had set against Gibeah.

³⁷伏兵急忙闖進基比亞，用刀殺死全城的人。The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword.

³⁸以色列人預先同伏兵約定在城內放火，以煙氣上騰為號。The men of Israel had arranged a signal with the men in ambush: When they sent up a great cloud of smoke from the city,

³⁹以色列人臨退陣的時候，便雅憫人動手殺死以色列人，約有三十個，就說：「他們仍像前次被我們殺敗了。」the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.”

⁴⁰當煙氣如柱從城中上騰的時候，便雅憫人回頭觀看，見全城的煙氣沖天。But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke.

⁴¹以色列人又轉身回來，便雅憫人就甚驚惶，因為看見災禍臨到自己了。Then the men of Israel turned back on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had come upon them.

⁴²他們在以色列人面前轉身往曠野逃跑；以色列人在後面追殺。那從各城裡出來的，也都夾攻殺滅他們。So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there.

⁴³以色列人圍繞便雅憫人，追趕他們，在他們歇腳之處、對著日出之地的基比亞踐踏他們。They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.

⁴⁴便雅憫人死了的有一萬八千，都是勇士。And 18,000 Benjamites fell, all men of valor.

⁴⁵其餘的人轉身向曠野逃跑，往臨門磐去。以色列人在道路上殺了他們五千人，如拾取遺穗一樣，追到基頓又殺了他們二千人。Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on the roads. And they overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more.

⁴⁶那日便雅憫死了的共有二萬五千人，都是拿刀的勇士。That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor.

⁴⁷只剩下六百人，轉身向曠野逃跑，到了臨門磐，就在那裡住了四個月。But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months.

⁴⁸以色列人又轉到便雅憫地，將各城的人和牲畜，並一切所遇見的，都用刀殺盡，又放火燒了一切城邑。And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path.

為缺了一個支派痛哭

¹以色列人在米斯巴曾起誓說：「我們都不將女兒給便雅憫人為妻。」Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”

²以色列人來到伯特利，坐在　神面前直到晚上，放聲痛哭，So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, lifting up their voices and weeping bitterly.

³說：「耶和華─以色列的　神啊，為何以色列中有這樣缺了一支派的事呢？」“Why, O LORD God of Israel,” they cried out, “has this happened in Israel? Today in Israel one tribe is missing!”

⁴次日清早，百姓起來，在那裡築了一座壇，獻燔祭和平安祭。The next day the people got up early, built an altar there, and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings.

⁵以色列人彼此問說：「以色列各支派中，誰沒有同會眾上到耶和華面前來呢？」先是以色列人起過大誓說，凡不上米斯巴到耶和華面前來的，必將他治死。The Israelites asked, “Who among all the tribes of Israel did not come to the assembly before the LORD?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah would surely be put to death.

⁶以色列人為他們的弟兄便雅憫後悔，說：「如今以色列中絕了一個支派了。And the Israelites grieved for their brothers, the Benjamites, and said, “Today a tribe is cut off from Israel.

⁷我們既在耶和華面前起誓說，必不將我們的女兒給便雅憫人為妻，現在我們當怎樣辦理、使他們剩下的人有妻呢？」What should we do about wives for the survivors, since we have sworn by the LORD not to give them our daughters in marriage?”

屠滅基列‧雅比

⁸又彼此問說：「以色列支派中誰沒有上米斯巴到耶和華面前來呢？」他們就查出基列‧雅比沒有一人進營到會眾那裡；So they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah?” And, in fact, no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp for the assembly.

⁹因為百姓被數的時候，沒有一個基列‧雅比人在那裡。For when the people were counted, none of the residents of Jabesh-gilead were there.

¹⁰會眾就打發一萬二千大勇士，吩咐他們說：「你們去用刀將基列‧雅比人連婦女帶孩子都擊殺了。So the congregation sent 12,000 of their most valiant men and commanded them: “Go and put to the sword those living in Jabesh-gilead, including women and children.

¹¹所當行的就是這樣：要將一切男子和已嫁的女子盡行殺戮。」This is what you are to do: Devote to destruction every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.”

¹²他們在基列‧雅比人中，遇見了四百個未嫁的處女，就帶到迦南地的示羅營裡。So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young women who had not had relations with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.

¹³全會眾打發人到臨門磐的便雅憫人那裡，向他們說和睦的話。Then the whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjamites who were at the rock of Rimmon.

¹⁴當時便雅憫人回來了，以色列人就把所存活基列‧雅比的女子給他們為妻，還是不夠。And at that time the Benjamites returned and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough women for all of them.

¹⁵百姓為便雅憫人後悔，因為耶和華使以色列人缺了一個支派（原文是使以色列中有了破口）。The people grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a void in the tribes of Israel.

在示羅搶女子為妻

¹⁶會中的長老說：「便雅憫中的女子既然除滅了，我們當怎樣辦理、使那餘剩的人有妻呢？」Then the elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”

¹⁷又說：「便雅憫逃脫的人當有地業，免得以色列中塗抹了一個支派。They added, “There must be heirs for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.

¹⁸只是我們不能將自己的女兒給他們為妻；因為以色列人曾起誓說，有將女兒給便雅憫人為妻的，必受咒詛。」But we cannot give them our daughters as wives.” For the Israelites had sworn, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to a Benjamite.”

¹⁹他們又說：「在利波拿以南，伯特利以北，在示劍大路以東的示羅，年年有耶和華的節期」；“But look,” they said, “there is a yearly feast to the LORD in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel east of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.”

²⁰就吩咐便雅憫人說：「你們去，在葡萄園中埋伏。So they commanded the Benjamites: “Go, hide in the vineyards

²¹若看見示羅的女子出來跳舞，就從葡萄園出來，在示羅的女子中各搶一個為妻，回便雅憫地去。and watch. When you see the daughters of Shiloh come out to perform their dances, each of you is to come out of the vineyards, catch for himself a wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

²²他們的父親或是弟兄若來與我們爭競，我們就說：『求你們看我們的情面，施恩給這些人，因我們在爭戰的時候沒有給他們留下女子為妻。這也不是你們將女子給他們的；若是你們給的，就算有罪。』」When their fathers or brothers come to us to complain, we will tell them, ‘Do us a favor by helping them, since we did not get wives for each of them in the war. Since you did not actually give them your daughters, you have no guilt.’”

²³於是便雅憫人照樣而行，按著他們的數目從跳舞的女子中搶去為妻，就回自己的地業去，又重修城邑居住。The Benjamites did as instructed and carried away the number of women they needed from the dancers they caught. They went back to their own inheritance, rebuilt their cities, and settled in them.

²⁴當時以色列人離開那裡，各歸本支派、本宗族、本地業去了。And at that time, each of the Israelites returned from there to his own tribe and clan, each to his own inheritance.

各人任意而行

²⁵那時，以色列中沒有王，各人任意而行。In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

大筵席的比喻

¹⁵同席的有一人聽見這話，就對耶穌說：「在　神國裡吃飯的有福了！」When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁶耶穌對他說：「有一人擺設大筵席，請了許多客。But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests.

¹⁷到了坐席的時候，打發僕人去對所請的人說：『請來吧！樣樣都齊備了。』When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸眾人一口同音地推辭。頭一個說：『我買了一塊地，必須去看看。請你准我辭了。』But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹又有一個說：『我買了五對牛，要去試一試。請你准我辭了。』Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.’

²⁰又有一個說：『我才娶了妻，所以不能去。』Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, so I cannot come.’

請窮人和殘疾的人來

²¹那僕人回來，把這事都告訴了主人。家主就動怒，對僕人說：『快出去，到城裡大街小巷，領那貧窮的、殘廢的、瞎眼的、瘸腿的來。』The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

²²僕人說：『主啊，你所吩咐的已經辦了，還有空座。』‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’

²³主人對僕人說：『你出去到路上和籬笆那裡，勉強人進來，坐滿我的屋子。So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

²⁴我告訴你們，先前所請的人沒有一個得嘗我的筵席。』」For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’”

作門徒的代價

²⁵有極多的人和耶穌同行。他轉過來對他們說：Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them,

²⁶「人到我這裡來，若不愛我勝過愛（愛我勝過愛：原文是恨）自己的父母、妻子、兒女、弟兄、姊妹，和自己的性命，就不能作我的門徒。“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.

²⁷凡不背著自己十字架跟從我的，也不能作我的門徒。And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.

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先坐下計算花費

²⁸你們哪一個要蓋一座樓，不先坐下算計花費，能蓋成不能呢？Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?

²⁹恐怕安了地基，不能成功，看見的人都笑話他，說：Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,

³⁰『這個人開了工，卻不能完工。』saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’

³¹或是一個王出去和別的王打仗，豈不先坐下酌量，能用一萬兵去敵那領二萬兵來攻打他的嗎？Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

³²若是不能，就趁敵人還遠的時候，派使者去求和息的條款。And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

³³這樣，你們無論甚麼人，若不撇下一切所有的，就不能作我的門徒。」In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.

失了味的鹽

³⁴「鹽本是好的；鹽若失了味，可用甚麼叫它再鹹呢？Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned?

³⁵或用在田裡，或堆在糞裡，都不合式，只好丟在外面。有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

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