Judges 20 42

Judges 20:42 kjv

Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.

Judges 20:42 nkjv

Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them, and whoever came out of the cities they destroyed in their midst.

Judges 20:42 niv

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.

Judges 20:42 esv

Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst.

Judges 20:42 nlt

So they turned around and fled before the Israelites toward the wilderness. But they couldn't escape the battle, and the people who came out of the nearby towns were also killed.

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 42 Meaning

Judges 20:42 describes the devastating defeat of the Benjamites during the war waged against them by the other Israelite tribes. As the Benjamite forces fled the main engagement, turning away from the men of Israel towards the desolate wilderness, the battle, however, was not over for them but vigorously pursued and overtook them. Furthermore, other Israelite contingents who had come out of nearby cities strategically annihilated them in their very midst, trapping them between the pursuers and the blocking forces, leading to their utter destruction.

Judges 20 42 Context

Judges chapter 20 narrates the climactic third day of the war between the united tribes of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. This war erupted due to the heinous crime committed by Benjamites in Gibeah (chapter 19) and Benjamin's defiant refusal to surrender the perpetrators. After two initial days of disastrous defeat and significant loss for Israel, they humbled themselves, wept, fasted, and sought God's direct guidance (Judges 20:23, 26-28). The Lord then promised them victory on the third day. Judges 20:42 describes the fulfillment of this divine promise, detailing how the Israelites, employing a well-planned ambush and pursuit strategy (similar to Joshua 8), overwhelmed the Benjamites, who fled from the main Israelite army towards the unprotected wilderness only to be cornered and annihilated by additional Israelite forces positioned to cut off their escape from the surrounding cities.

Judges 20 42 Word analysis

• So they turned (וַיִּפְנוּ - va-yifnu): From the Hebrew root panah (פנה), meaning "to turn," "to face," or "to turn away." Here, it clearly indicates their flight and turning their backs to the pursuers. This signals the Benjamites' abandonment of direct battle, moving into retreat.
• before the men of Israel (לִפְנֵי אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל - lifne ish yisrael): Literally "to the face of Israel's man," meaning in front of them or in their presence, but in context, "away from" or "escaping from." This highlights that their movement was in direct response to the pressure from the main Israelite army.
• toward the wilderness (אֶל הַמִּדְבָּר - el ha-midbar): Midbar (מִדְבָּר) refers to an uncultivated, sparsely populated, and often desolate area, not necessarily a desert in the extreme sense but an open grazing land or barren region. This was a tactical blunder, as such terrain offered little cover or defensive positions for a retreating army, making them vulnerable. Likely the wilderness of Rimmon (Judg 20:47) or a similar adjacent arid region.
• but the battle (וְהַמִּלְחָמָה - ve-ha-milchamah): Milchamah (מִלְחָמָה) means "battle" or "war." The conjunction "but" (vav conjunctive here acts adversatively) emphasizes that their turning was not an escape; the battle itself continued to engage them.
• overtook them (הִדְבִּיקָתַם - hidbiqatâm): From the root dabaq (דבק), "to cleave," "to cling to," "to pursue closely," or "to overtake." This powerful verb suggests an unrelenting, sticky pursuit where the pursuers maintained close contact, ensuring no escape and continuously pressing the advantage.
• and those who came out (וְהַבָּאִים - ve-ha-ba'im): Ba'im (בָּאִים) is a participle from bo' (בוא), "to come." This refers to another contingent of Israelite soldiers, separate from the main pursuing force, who had been strategically positioned.
• of the cities (מִן הֶעָרִים - min he'arim): Arim (עָרִים) means "cities." This implies Israelite forces from various towns or outposts in the surrounding area had been deployed as an ambush or blocking force, creating a pincer movement or encirclement. These cities likely included Gibeah, where an ambush had been set, and other nearby Israelite settlements.
• destroyed them (הִשְׁמִידוּם - hishmidum): From the root shamad (שׁמד), "to utterly destroy," "to annihilate," "to lay waste." This is a strong verb indicating complete and merciless eradication, reflecting the totality of God's judgment against Benjamin's actions.
• in the midst (בַּתּוֹךְ - ba-tavek): Tavek (תּוֹךְ) means "middle" or "midst." This signifies that the Benjamites were caught in a trap, likely surrounded, and annihilated while hemmed in from all sides or between the main pursuing army and the forces from the cities. They were given no quarter, their last stand being crushed completely.

Judges 20 42 Bonus section

The detailed military tactics described in Judges 20, particularly the ambush and the pincer movement alluded to in this verse, reflect a sophisticated level of strategy for ancient warfare. Scholars highlight that Israel's persistent inquiry of the Lord before this third engagement was key; it wasn't their superior fighting prowess but God's divine wisdom and empowering presence that guaranteed this comprehensive victory, especially given their previous crushing defeats. The outcome illustrates the principle that divine judgment can be total and inescapable for those who willfully persist in grievous sin and rebellion against God's standards and calls for justice. The pursuit into the wilderness of Rimmon (mentioned subsequently in Judg 20:45) indicates a harsh, difficult terrain for desperate flight, further contributing to their complete demise.

Judges 20 42 Commentary

Judges 20:42 represents the decisive and utterly destructive phase of the war against Benjamin, a war precipitated by gross moral depravity and an defiant refusal to address sin within their midst. After humbling themselves before God, the Israelites execute a divinely guided military strategy. This verse graphically depicts the inescapable judgment. The Benjamites, once defiant, now flee in disarray towards the barren wilderness. However, their escape is futile; the pursuing Israelite army (the "battle overtook them") maintains relentless pressure. Concurrently, strategic Israelite detachments, positioned previously from nearby cities, cut off any further retreat, ensnaring Benjamin's forces. This results in their "destruction in the midst," emphasizing a total encirclement and annihilation. It underscores God's sovereignty over warfare, His fulfillment of promises to His people (after their repentance), and the devastating consequences of unchecked sin and rebellion. It serves as a stark reminder that attempts to flee from God's judgment are in vain, as His hand extends to where there is seemingly no escape.