Judges 20 31

Judges 20:31 kjv

And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

Judges 20:31 nkjv

So the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city. They began to strike down and kill some of the people, as at the other times, in the highways (one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah) and in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

Judges 20:31 niv

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.

Judges 20:31 esv

And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.

Judges 20:31 nlt

When the men of Benjamin came out to attack, they were drawn away from the town. And as they had done before, they began to kill the Israelites. About thirty Israelites died in the open fields and along the roads, one leading to Bethel and the other leading back to Gibeah.

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 31 Meaning

Judges 20:31 describes a pivotal moment in the battle between the tribes of Israel and Benjamin. After two previous defeats, Israel implemented a cunning strategic maneuver: they feigned a retreat, drawing the Benjamite forces out from their stronghold in Gibeah into the open country. Despite the success of this tactical lure, the pursuing Benjamites inflicted immediate casualties on the Israelite forces, resulting in the loss of approximately thirty men on the main highways leading towards Bethel and Gibeah, a necessary sacrifice to fully execute their planned ambush.

Judges 20 31 Context

Judges chapter 20 narrates the unified Israelite tribes' war against Benjamin, specifically concerning the wicked atrocity committed in Gibeah as described in Judges 19. Despite the apparent righteousness of their cause, Israel suffered two devastating defeats on successive days, losing 22,000 and 18,000 men respectively. Humbled by these massive losses, they turned to God with true repentance and inquiry at Bethel. Judges 20:31 marks the crucial beginning of the third day of battle. Unlike the previous frontal assaults, this verse initiates the cunning strategy devised by Israel, now operating under divine instruction. They feign a complete rout, enticing the overconfident Benjamites out from their fortified city walls into the open field, setting the stage for a strategic ambush.

Judges 20 31 Word analysis

• And the men of Israel: Refers to the collective army from the eleven tribes who united to address the unpunished wickedness within Benjamin. This underscores the scale of the conflict.
• went out against the Benjamites: Indicates the initiation of engagement, specifically moving towards the opposing force.
• and were drawn away (הֶתֶּקּוּ - heṭṭeqqū): A passive verb (nif'al imperfect from natak, 'to pull, to tear away'). This is key to the verse; it implies Israel intentionally allowed themselves to be lured. It signifies the success of their strategic feigned retreat, enticing Benjamin out.
• from the city: Specifically referring to Gibeah, Benjamin's heavily fortified stronghold, which was difficult to capture through direct assault. Drawing them out was crucial for the ambush to work.
• and began to smite of the people, and kill (הֵחֵלּוּ לְהַכּוֹת hēḥēllû lĕhakkôt): Describes the immediate, initial aggression from the Benjamites who, perceiving a rout, pursued and attacked the seemingly fleeing Israelites.
• as at other times: This crucial phrase provides credibility to Israel's feigned retreat. It signals to the Benjamites that this pursuit felt identical to their earlier, decisive victories against Israel, reinforcing their overconfidence.
• in the highways (הַמְסִלּוֹת hammĕsilōṯ): Refers to raised or paved roads, typically main routes of travel. These were likely chosen strategically to guide Benjamin into the planned ambush locations, away from the city's defenses.
• of which one goeth up to the house of God (בֵית־אֵל Bêṯ-'Ēl, Bethel): Bethel ("House of God") was a significant religious and geographical center for Israel, indicating one of the major strategic arteries and geographical reference points for the pursuit.
• and the other to Gibeah in the field (הַגִּבְעָה בַשָּׂדֶה haggibʿâ baśśāḏeh): Distinguishes this location from the fortified city of Gibeah. It denotes the open country around Gibeah, where the ambush was set to spring. This specificity clarifies the precise nature of the trap.
• about thirty men of Israel: A specific and relatively small number of casualties. This detail authenticates the feigned retreat; it's a real, measurable loss for Israel that convinces Benjamin the flight is genuine, yet small enough not to compromise the overall strategy. It highlights the costly commitment to executing God's strategic plan.

Words-group analysis:

• "were drawn away from the city, and began to smite... as at other times": This grouping powerfully illustrates the successful execution of the deception. Israel deliberately allowed themselves to be lured out and initially harmed, presenting a convincing facade of a genuine retreat, drawing Benjamin into overconfidence and vulnerability.
• "in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field": This highlights the precise and strategic use of the local topography. The "highways" suggest prepared or expected lines of movement, while mentioning specific landmarks like Bethel and "Gibeah in the field" emphasizes the detailed, deliberate planning of the ambush's geographical context. This was not a chaotic chase but a controlled maneuver.
• "about thirty men of Israel": This precise yet seemingly small number contrasts sharply with the thousands lost in prior battles. It underscores the calculated sacrifice made to achieve the greater objective, making the feint credible to Benjamin without decimating Israel's forces further.

Judges 20 31 Bonus section

The narrative attention to such a specific number of casualties ("about thirty men") is striking given the massive, rounded casualty figures (22,000, 18,000) mentioned in the preceding verses. This precise detail serves to heighten the narrative's realism, making the feigned retreat appear truly genuine to both the Benjamites and the reader. It demonstrates Israel's disciplined adherence to their divinely-informed, though costly, battle plan, highlighting their growth in both strategic wisdom and obedience after their previous failures rooted in self-reliance. This account provides a practical illustration of warfare where shrewd tactics are implemented alongside faith in God's plan.

Judges 20 31 Commentary

Judges 20:31 is the turning point in the Israel-Benjamin war, revealing Israel's newfound strategic ingenuity after their initial humbling and sincere repentance before God. The feigned retreat described here is not a simple flight but a calculated maneuver. The "about thirty men" casualties underscore the painful authenticity of this ruse, indicating a real cost borne by Israel to fully deceive Benjamin, making the pursuers believe it was "as at other times." This deliberate tactical execution, in line with God's instruction, leads Benjamin out of their stronghold and into the carefully laid ambush, demonstrating how divine guidance, combined with strategic obedience and willingness to suffer a minor setback, ensures ultimate victory.