士師記21:1-25

21:1 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。」
21:2 以色列人來到伯特利，坐在上帝面前直到晚上，放聲痛哭，
21:3 說：「耶和華─以色列的上帝啊，為何以色列中有這樣缺了一支派的事呢？」
21:4 次日清早，百姓起來，在那裡築了一座壇，獻燔祭和平安祭。
21:5 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。
21:6 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。
21:7 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？」
21:8 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；
21:9 因為百姓被數的時候，沒有一個基列‧雅比人在那裡。
21:10 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。
21:11 所當行的就是這樣：要將一切男子和已嫁的女子盡行殺戮。」
21:12 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。
21:13 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。
21:14 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。
21:15 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）。
21:16 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？」
21:17 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。
21:18 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。」
21:19 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」；
21:20 就吩咐便雅憫人說：「你們去，在葡萄園中埋伏。
21:21 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。
21:22 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。』」
21:23 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。
21:24 當時以色列人離開那裡，各歸本支派、本宗族、本地業去了。
21:25 那時，以色列中沒有王，各人任意而行。

The men of Israel had taken an oath at Mizpah: “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”

² The people went to Bethel,^[a] where they sat before God until evening, raising their voices and weeping bitterly. ³ “Lord, God of Israel,” they cried, “why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing from Israel today?”

⁴ Early the next day the people built an altar and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.

⁵ Then the Israelites asked, “Who from all the tribes of Israel has failed to assemble before the Lord?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to assemble before the Lord at Mizpah was to be put to death.

⁶ Now the Israelites grieved for the tribe of Benjamin, their fellow Israelites. “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel,” they said. ⁷ “How can we provide wives for those who are left, since we have taken an oath by the Lord not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?” ⁸ Then they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the Lord at Mizpah?” They discovered that no one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the camp for the assembly. ⁹ For when they counted the people, they found that none of the people of Jabesh Gilead were there.

¹⁰ So the assembly sent twelve thousand fighting men with instructions to go to Jabesh Gilead and put to the sword those living there, including the women and children. ¹¹ “This is what you are to do,” they said. “Kill every male and every woman who is not a virgin.” ¹² They found among the people living in Jabesh Gilead four hundred young women who had never slept with a man, and they took them to the camp at Shiloh in Canaan.

¹³ Then the whole assembly sent an offer of peace to the Benjamites at the rock of Rimmon. ¹⁴ So the Benjamites returned at that time and were given the women of Jabesh Gilead who had been spared. But there were not enough for all of them.

¹⁵ The people grieved for Benjamin, because the Lord had made a gap in the tribes of Israel. ¹⁶ And the elders of the assembly said, “With the women of Benjamin destroyed, how shall we provide wives for the men who are left? ¹⁷ The Benjamite survivors must have heirs,” they said, “so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out. ¹⁸ We can’t give them our daughters as wives, since we Israelites have taken this oath: ‘Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to a Benjamite.’ ¹⁹ But look, there is the annual festival of the Lord in Shiloh, which lies north of Bethel, east of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.”

²⁰ So they instructed the Benjamites, saying, “Go and hide in the vineyards ²¹ and watch. When the young women of Shiloh come out to join in the dancing, rush from the vineyards and each of you seize one of them to be your wife. Then return to the land of Benjamin. ²² When their fathers or brothers complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Do us the favor of helping them, because we did not get wives for them during the war. You will not be guilty of breaking your oath because you did not give your daughters to them.’”

²³ So that is what the Benjamites did. While the young women were dancing, each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and settled in them.

²⁴ At that time the Israelites left that place and went home to their tribes and clans, each to his own inheritance.

²⁵ In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

***********

    便雅憫支派在和以色列人爭戰之後，就失去了他們該有的地位，甚至在婚姻的事情上也受到影響，就是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。」

    然而起完這樣的誓之後，便雅憫支派人丁就越來越單薄，以至於以色列人又覺得不對以色列人來到伯特利，坐在上帝面前直到晚上，放聲痛哭說：「耶和華─以色列的上帝啊，為何以色列中有這樣缺了一支派的事呢？」

    於是他們就聚集在伯特利又繼續算舊帳，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。他們又彼此問說：「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；因為百姓被數的時候，沒有一個基列‧雅比人在那裡。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。所當行的就是這樣：要將一切男子和已嫁的女子盡行殺戮。」

    一次錯又第二次錯，又去做殺戮的事情，在這之中搶奪四百個未嫁的處女，就帶到迦南地的示羅營裡。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，然後將這四百個女子給便雅憫人為妻。當然這四百女子還是不夠，怎麼辦呢？只好利用節期的時候讓便雅憫人搶婚，當作沒有看見！

    這些聽來讓人覺得很荒謬，之所以如此就是因為「那時，以色列中沒有王，各人任意而行。」

    這說明了人的軟弱，因為沒有明顯的王權治理，整個以色列就大亂，惹上帝的憤怒！而以色列這樣的事情，也讓今日教會成為借鏡，為什麼需要「長老治會」也在於照人的本性，因為罪的緣故，無法拒絕罪惡的事，即使信主之後，仍然尚未完全，故需要治會的同工，來做治理教會的事，使教會凡事照規矩而行！

    治理教會就必須有「教會懲戒」（https://kk1591.blogspot.com/2018/03/blog-post_54.html ）和「教會總會和會議」（https://kk1591.blogspot.com/2018/03/blog-post_69.html ）之規範與作為，好維持信仰的純正和教會發展，才不會「沒有王，各人任意而行」！

詩篇129篇

      詩篇129:1-8  , 詩篇 第129篇  ,

詩篇129:1-8

129:1 （上行之詩。）以色列當說：從我幼年以來，敵人屢次苦害我，
129:2 從我幼年以來，敵人屢次苦害我，卻沒有勝了我。
129:3 如同扶犁的在我背上扶犁而耕，耕的犁溝甚長。
129:4 耶和華是公義的；他砍斷了惡人的繩索。
129:5 願恨惡錫安的都蒙羞退後！
129:6 願他們像房頂上的草，未長成而枯乾，
129:7 收割的不夠一把，捆禾的也不滿懷。
129:8 過路的也不說：願耶和華所賜的福歸與你們！我們奉耶和華的名給你們祝福！

A song of ascents.

¹ “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”
    let Israel say;
² “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
    but they have not gained the victory over me.
³ Plowmen have plowed my back
    and made their furrows long.
⁴ But the Lord is righteous;
    he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”

⁵ May all who hate Zion
    be turned back in shame.
⁶ May they be like grass on the roof,
    which withers before it can grow;
⁷ a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,
    nor one who gathers fill his arms.
⁸ May those who pass by not say to them,
    “The blessing of the Lord be on you;
    we bless you in the name of the Lord.”

**************

    以色列人來到上帝面前，向上帝述說自己受到敵人的壓制和苦害，是抒發不是埋怨！雖然如此，卻也體會到上帝的拯救！正如詩人在這裡所說：「以色列當說：從我幼年以來，敵人屢次苦害我，從我幼年以來，敵人屢次苦害我，卻沒有勝了我。如同扶犁的在我背上扶犁而耕，耕的犁溝甚長。耶和華是公義的；他砍斷了惡人的繩索。」

    讚我們的生命中所遇到的人，有些人是善待我們，也有惡待我們的！但是上帝會為我們申冤的，他會就我們脫離那些要苦害我們的人，正如主耶穌在會堂讀以賽亞書的經文：「主耶和華的靈在我身上；因為耶和華用膏膏我，叫我傳好信息給謙卑的人（或譯：傳福音給貧窮的人），差遣我醫好傷心的人，報告被擄的得釋放，被囚的出監牢；報告耶和華的恩年，和我們上帝報仇的日子；安慰一切悲哀的人！(61:1-2)

    是的，不管遇到甚麼事情，我們都要仰望上帝，也願那欺壓人、占人便宜的人，都像詩人所說：「願恨惡錫安的都蒙羞退後！願他們像房頂上的草，未長成而枯乾，收割的不夠一把，捆禾的也不滿懷。過路的也不說：願耶和華所賜的福歸與你們！我們奉耶和華的名給你們祝福！」

    因為上帝是公平與正義的上帝，他必定為我們申冤，使祂的名榮耀！

士師記20章

     士師記20:1-48  ,

士師記20:1-48

20:1 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。
20:2 以色列民的首領，就是各支派的軍長，都站在上帝百姓的會中；拿刀的步兵共有四十萬。
20:3 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。」
20:4 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。
20:5 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。
20:6 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。
20:7 你們以色列人都當籌劃商議。」
20:8 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。
20:9 我們向基比亞人必這樣行，照所掣的籤去攻擊他們。
20:10 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。」
20:11 於是以色列眾人彼此連合如同一人，聚集攻擊那城。
20:12 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？
20:13 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。
20:14 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。
20:15 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。
20:16 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。
20:17 便雅憫人之外，點出以色列人拿刀的，共有四十萬，都是戰士。
20:18 以色列人就起來，到伯特利去求問上帝說：「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。」
20:19 以色列人早晨起來，對著基比亞安營。
20:20 以色列人出來，要與便雅憫人打仗，就在基比亞前擺陣。
20:21 便雅憫人就從基比亞出來，當日殺死以色列人二萬二千。
20:22 以色列人彼此奮勇，仍在頭一日擺陣的地方又擺陣。
20:23 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。」
20:24 第二日，以色列人就上前攻擊便雅憫人。
20:25 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。
20:26 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。
20:27 那時，上帝的約櫃在那裡；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。」
20:28 【併於上節】
20:29 以色列人在基比亞的四圍設下伏兵。
20:30 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。
20:31 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。
20:32 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。」
20:33 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。
20:34 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。
20:35 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。
20:36 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。
20:37 伏兵急忙闖進基比亞，用刀殺死全城的人。
20:38 以色列人預先同伏兵約定在城內放火，以煙氣上騰為號。
20:39 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。」
20:40 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。
20:41 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。
20:42 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。
20:43 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。
20:44 便雅憫人死了的有一萬八千，都是勇士。
20:45 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。
20:46 那日便雅憫死了的共有二萬五千人，都是拿刀的勇士。
20:47 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。
20:48 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。

Then all Israel from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came together as one and assembled before the Lord in Mizpah. ² The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, four hundred thousand men armed with swords. ³ (The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, “Tell us how this awful thing happened.”

⁴ So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. ⁵ During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died. ⁶ I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance, because they committed this lewd and outrageous act in Israel. ⁷ Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.”

⁸ All the men rose up together as one, saying, “None of us will go home. No, not one of us will return to his house. ⁹ But now this is what we’ll do to Gibeah: We’ll go up against it in the order decided by casting lots. ¹⁰ We’ll take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred from a thousand, and a thousand from ten thousand, to get provisions for the army. Then, when the army arrives at Gibeah^[a] in Benjamin, it can give them what they deserve for this outrageous act done in Israel.” ¹¹ So all the Israelites got together and united as one against the city.

¹² The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What about this awful crime that was committed among you? ¹³ Now turn those wicked men of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.”

But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites. ¹⁴ From their towns they came together at Gibeah to fight against the Israelites. ¹⁵ At once the Benjamites mobilized twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns, in addition to seven hundred able young men from those living in Gibeah. ¹⁶ Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

¹⁷ Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle.

¹⁸ The Israelites went up to Bethel^[b] and inquired of God. They said, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?”

The Lord replied, “Judah shall go first.”

¹⁹ The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah. ²⁰ The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah. ²¹ The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day. ²² But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day. ²³ The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and they inquired of the Lord. They said, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites?”

The Lord answered, “Go up against them.”

²⁴ Then the Israelites drew near to Benjamin the second day. ²⁵ This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites, all of them armed with swords.

²⁶ Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. ²⁷ And the Israelites inquired of the Lord. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, ²⁸ with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?”

The Lord responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.”

²⁹ Then Israel set an ambush around Gibeah. ³⁰ They went up against the Benjamites on the third day and took up positions against Gibeah as they had done before. ³¹ The Benjamites came out to meet them and were drawn away from the city. They began to inflict casualties on the Israelites as before, so that about thirty men fell in the open field and on the roads—the one leading to Bethel and the other to Gibeah. ³² While the Benjamites were saying, “We are defeating them as before,” the Israelites were saying, “Let’s retreat and draw them away from the city to the roads.”

³³ All the men of Israel moved from their places and took up positions at Baal Tamar, and the Israelite ambush charged out of its place on the west^[c] of Gibeah.^{[d] 34} Then ten thousand of Israel’s able young men made a frontal attack on Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that the Benjamites did not realize how near disaster was. ³⁵ The Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel, and on that day the Israelites struck down 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords. ³⁶ Then the Benjamites saw that they were beaten.

Now the men of Israel had given way before Benjamin, because they relied on the ambush they had set near Gibeah. ³⁷ Those who had been in ambush made a sudden dash into Gibeah, spread out and put the whole city to the sword. ³⁸ The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke from the city, ³⁹ and then the Israelites would counterattack.

The Benjamites had begun to inflict casualties on the Israelites (about thirty), and they said, “We are defeating them as in the first battle.” ⁴⁰ But when the column of smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the whole city going up in smoke. ⁴¹ Then the Israelites counterattacked, and the Benjamites were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come on them. ⁴² So they fled before the Israelites in the direction of the wilderness, but they could not escape the battle. And the Israelites who came out of the towns cut them down there. ⁴³ They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and easily^[e] overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. ⁴⁴ Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them valiant fighters. ⁴⁵ As they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, the Israelites cut down five thousand men along the roads. They kept pressing after the Benjamites as far as Gidom and struck down two thousand more.

⁴⁶ On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters. ⁴⁷ But six hundred of them turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. ⁴⁸ The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword, including the animals and everything else they found. All the towns they came across they set on fire.

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    這樣的記載讓我們感受到以色列人除惡務盡的決心，一定要便雅憫人將基比亞的惡徒交出來，但是便雅憫人卻上下一心，要保護他們的弟兄，不惜和以色列其他支派的聯軍對戰！

    第一天被殺的以色列軍隊有二萬二千人，他們就在上帝面前哀哭禱告！但是這樣做有沒有果效？沒有！第二天又被殺死一萬八千，使他們更慌了！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。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？」

    可見以色列人已經喪膽了，要不是上帝應允他們：「你們當上去，因為明日我必將他們交在你們手中。」他們大概不會打下去，就沒有第三天的勝利！

    我們其實很容易像以色列人這樣的情形，以為自己盡力了，也求了上帝，沒有看見果效就放棄了，殊不知再努力一下就會成就！所以，不要輕言放棄，要堅持下去！正如常言道：「成功是屬於堅忍和有屹立的人！」

    更何況，我們有上帝的同在！不要憑感覺，要憑信心！