Judges 20 39

Judges 20:39 kjv

And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.

Judges 20:39 nkjv

whereupon the men of Israel would turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty of the men of Israel. For they said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."

Judges 20:39 niv

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."

Judges 20:39 esv

the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel. They said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."

Judges 20:39 nlt

When the Israelites saw the smoke, they turned and attacked Benjamin's warriors. By that time Benjamin's warriors had killed about thirty Israelites, and they shouted, "We're defeating them as we did in the first battle!"

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 39 Meaning

Judges 20:39 describes a crucial moment during the third day of battle between the tribes of Israel and Benjamin. As the main Israelite force executed a deliberate tactical retreat, appearing to flee, the Benjamites, filled with false confidence from their previous two victories, aggressively pursued them. Believing they had decisively defeated the Israelites again, as they had in the first two engagements, they attacked, inflicting approximately thirty casualties upon the withdrawing Israelite men. This temporary success for Benjamin, however, was part of Israel's larger, God-guided ambush strategy, intended to lure the Benjamite forces away from their city, Gibeah, and into a fatal trap.

Judges 20 39 Context

Verse Context: Judges 20:39 is part of the climactic third day of battle between Israel and Benjamin. On the first two days, despite seeking God's will and having divine permission to fight, Israel suffered devastating defeats, losing 22,000 and 18,000 men respectively (Judg 20:21, 25). Humbled and grieving, they again sought the Lord, who promised victory on the third day (Judg 20:28). This verse details the deceptive stratagem Israel employed: a tactical retreat, which Benjamin misinterpreted as a rout, thus setting the stage for Israel's ambush to destroy Benjamin.

Chapter Context: Judges 20 chronicles Israel's righteous indignation and united action against the wicked behavior of Benjamin (specifically, the men of Gibeah) as detailed in chapter 19. Benjamin's refusal to surrender the perpetrators of the heinous crime led to civil war. The initial Israelite defeats highlight their reliance on mere numbers and perhaps their own self-righteousness, requiring deep humbling before God granted victory. This battle represents a purging of evil from within Israel, even at tremendous cost.

Historical Context: This event takes place during the turbulent period of the Judges, characterized by a lack of central authority ("in those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes," Judg 21:25). The moral decay within Israel had reached a shocking level, as evidenced by the events in Gibeah (Judges 19). The civil war signifies God's judgment upon the spiritual and moral depravity that had gripped a portion of His people. The narrative highlights the tribal nature of society, the fierce loyalty within tribes (Benjamin protecting their wicked men), and the desperate measures required to maintain the moral integrity of the twelve tribes as a whole.

Judges 20 39 Word analysis

• And when: This phrase links the current action to the preceding events, showing a direct consequence of the Israelite tactical movements. It emphasizes continuity in the battle's unfolding narrative.
• the men of Israel: Refers to the collective fighting force of the eleven tribes arrayed against Benjamin. It signifies a unified effort guided by strategy.
• retired: The Hebrew term is נָסַג (nāsag), Hithpael imperfect, meaning "to draw back," "to retreat," "to turn away." Crucially, it denotes a deliberate, controlled withdrawal rather than a chaotic, panicked flight. This is the key element of their deception. The nuance is that they pulled back, not necessarily fled in fear.
• in the battle: Indicates that this withdrawal occurred within the ongoing engagement, under combat conditions, making it appear more like a natural rout to the unsuspecting enemy.
• Benjamin: The tribal adversary, portrayed here as arrogant and overconfident due to their prior unexpected victories against a larger force. Their past success blinds them.
• began to smite and kill: Shows Benjamin's aggressive pursuit and opportunistic action. They seized what they perceived as an advantage, believing the Israelites were genuinely routed. The verbs denote active, violent engagement.
• of the men of Israel: Specifies the victims of Benjamin's temporary success.
• about thirty persons: A precise, relatively small number. This detail suggests a measured cost for the successful feint; Israel was willing to sustain limited casualties to draw out Benjamin. It demonstrates the controlled nature of the withdrawal—it wasn't a wholesale slaughter of the retreating force.
• for they thought: The Hebrew ki 'ameru (כִּי אָמְרוּ) literally "for they said" or "for they concluded." This highlights Benjamin's faulty judgment and misperception. Their actions were based on an erroneous assumption, fueled by previous experiences.
• that they were smitten down: The Hebrew hahalel (הֶחָלָל), derived from halal (חָלַל), means "pierced through," "slain," "defeated." Benjamin believed the Israelites were suffering a true, decisive defeat, a fatal blow like those inflicted on days one and two.
• before them: In their direct line of sight, adding to their false confidence as they visually witnessed the perceived rout.
• as in the first battle: This comparison is paramount. It explicitly references Benjamin's stunning victories on the first two days (Judg 20:21, 25) when they genuinely routed the Israelites. This past success instilled an arrogant overconfidence, leading them to misinterpret Israel's feigned retreat as another authentic defeat. It was this historical bias that blinded them to the present reality of a cunning trap.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And when the men of Israel retired in the battle,": This phrase introduces Israel's critical strategic maneuver. It sets the scene for a deceptive withdrawal, where appearance differs from reality. The controlled "retirement" is key to the entire ambush plan, demonstrating Israel's learning from previous defeats and following divine guidance for strategic warfare.
• "Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons:": This highlights Benjamin's immediate, aggressive, and seemingly successful response to the feigned retreat. The specific, limited casualty count signifies the planned nature of the operation – it was a calculated risk, not a genuine disaster for the main Israelite force. It also demonstrates Benjamin's enthusiasm in what they thought was a familiar victorious scenario.
• "for they thought that they were smitten down before them, as in the first battle.": This entire clause reveals Benjamin's fatal miscalculation. Their perception was utterly flawed, directly leading them into the trap. The phrase "as in the first battle" underscores their overconfidence derived from past, genuine victories. This hubris, rooted in misunderstanding the strategic shift, made them susceptible to deception and led directly to their ultimate downfall. It's a stark illustration of how misplaced confidence can lead to ruin.

Judges 20 39 Bonus section

• The strategic "retreat" of Israel in this verse strongly parallels Joshua's feigned flight against Ai (Josh 8:1-29), indicating a pattern of God-given wisdom in military tactics within Israel's history. This suggests a divine hand guiding Israel to replicate past successful strategies after seeking His will.
• The psychological warfare at play here is significant: Benjamin's overconfidence, fed by the initial battles, became their most exploitable weakness. The retreat didn't just draw them out geographically; it exploited their inflated sense of superiority, ensuring a furious, unthinking pursuit.
• This verse provides dramatic irony. The reader is privy to Israel's plan, while Benjamin is unaware, making their jubilation over "smitten" Israelites tragically misplaced. Their apparent "victory" is precisely what guarantees their ultimate defeat.

Judges 20 39 Commentary

Judges 20:39 marks the turning point in the devastating civil war against Benjamin. After two crushing defeats, Israel, humbled and now fully reliant on God's strategic guidance (Judg 20:28), employs a sophisticated military feint. This verse captures Benjamin's catastrophic error: mistaking Israel's disciplined, tactical retreat for another decisive rout, similar to their previous stunning victories. This overconfidence, born of past success and a lack of spiritual discernment, caused Benjamin to zealously pursue what they perceived as fleeing enemies, drawing them further from their stronghold, Gibeah, and directly into the waiting ambush (Judg 20:34).

The "thirty persons" sacrificed during this feigned retreat represent the tactical cost of war and underscore the gravity of Israel's resolve, demonstrating their willingness to incur minor losses for a decisive ultimate victory. Benjamin's eagerness to "smite and kill" reflects their hardened pride and refusal to repent, reinforcing the narrative that their impending destruction was a divinely permitted consequence of their rebellion and blind arrogance. This moment vividly portrays the strategic brilliance when God's guidance is followed, contrasting sharply with the folly of human pride that leads to ruin. It's a testament that appearances can be deceiving, and relying on past patterns without divine insight or true understanding of current circumstances can lead to devastating consequences.