Judges 20 43

Judges 20:43 kjv

Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.

Judges 20:43 nkjv

They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and easily trampled them down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the east.

Judges 20:43 niv

They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and easily overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.

Judges 20:43 esv

Surrounding the Benjaminites, they pursued them and trod them down from Nohah as far as opposite Gibeah on the east.

Judges 20:43 nlt

The Israelites surrounded the men of Benjamin and chased them relentlessly, finally overtaking them east of Gibeah.

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 43 Meaning

Judges 20:43 describes the overwhelming and decisive defeat of the Benjamites by the other tribes of Israel on the third day of their civil war. After two previous defeats for the Israelites, God granted them victory, allowing them to thoroughly rout Benjamin. The verse vividly portrays the relentless pursuit and utter destruction of Benjamin's forces. They were surrounded, vigorously chased, and decimated, with their bodies metaphorically "trodden down" as they fled from the specific area of Gibeah eastward. This speaks to a complete and brutal triumph, leaving no quarter for the retreating Benjamites.

Judges 20 43 Context

Judges chapter 20 describes the devastating civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the united tribes of Israel. This war was ignited by the heinous sin committed in Gibeah of Benjamin, where Levite's concubine was gang-raped and killed, a crime reminiscent of Sodom. The other Israelite tribes demanded that Benjamin deliver the offenders for justice, but Benjamin refused, defending the wicked and provoking war. After two days of battle, where Israel suffered immense losses, God finally granted Israel victory on the third day. Verse 43 falls within the description of this decisive third-day battle, depicting the relentless pursuit and almost total annihilation of the Benjamite warriors. Historically, this period reflects the complete moral decay of Israel, characterized by idolatry, violence, and absence of a central, righteous authority, as explicitly stated: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 17:6, 21:25). This verse encapsulates the terrible consequence of defending profound wickedness within the covenant community.

Judges 20 43 Word analysis

• They surrounded (וְהִכְתִּרֻהוּ / v'hikhteruhu): From the root כתר (kātar), meaning "to crown," but in the Hiphil form here, "to surround, to encircle, to crown someone with," or "to besiege." Here, it signifies the act of completely encircling the enemy, cutting off their escape. The Hiphil denotes causing someone to be crowned, or here, to be trapped as if with a crown, emphasizing total entrapment. It shows their entrapment was deliberate and successful.
• chased them (הִדְבִּיקֻהוּ / hidbîqūhū): From דָּבַק (dābaq), "to cleave, to cling, to overtake, to pursue closely." This Hiphil form means "they caused them to cleave (to them in pursuit)" or "they pursued them closely," leaving no gap. It denotes relentless and tenacious pursuit, sticking to their heels, giving them no opportunity to regroup or escape. This implies the exhaustion and constant pressure applied by the pursuers.
• and trod them down (הֵרִיקוּ / hêrīqū): From רִיק (rîq), meaning "to empty out, to draw out." The interpretation "trod them down" is an English idiomatic rendering of a concept of utter destruction and overwhelming defeat, emptying out their strength or lives. The primary meaning of riq is to pour out (like wine), or to draw a sword from its sheath, hence to unsheathe or empty. Here, it can mean "they emptied out (their lives/strength)," "they made them flee completely," or "they harassed/exhausted them completely." The result is a state of being "trampled" or utterly devastated. This implies a thorough, unrestrained destruction, draining all their resistance.
• from Gibeah (מִגִּבְעָה / miggiḇ'â): Gibeah was the original scene of the crime and the primary Benjaminite stronghold. This marks the origin point of the decisive rout.
• from Menuhah (מִמְּנוּחָה / mim'nuḥah): This is a key debated term. It literally means "from a resting place" (from נוּחַ, nuakh, "to rest"). Some scholars propose it's a specific geographical location "Menuhah" (unidentified archaeologically). Others interpret it adverbially as "without resting," emphasizing the relentless, unceasing pursuit, giving the Benjamites no respite. Given the context of intense chase and destruction, the adverbial reading (i.e., "they pursued them relentlessly without giving them any rest") is very strong and is reflected in many modern translations.
• unto over against the sunrising (עַד נֶגֶד הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ / ad neḡeḏ haššeʾmeš): Literally, "as far as opposite the sun," meaning "eastward" or "towards the sunrise." This phrase describes the direction and extent of the pursuit, showing they were chased continuously across the landscape until they reached a significant eastern boundary. This confirms the vastness of the slaughter zone.
• around about (וְאֵיכֶיף / wᵉʾeḵayiph): Often rendered "in the open field," but could mean "in every direction." It describes the widespread nature of the slaughter across the landscape.
• forty thousand men (אַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף אִישׁ / ’arbā‘îm ’eleph ’îš): This detail highlights the catastrophic loss suffered by Benjamin.

Word-Groups Analysis:

• They surrounded... and chased them, and trod them down: This tripartite action demonstrates a comprehensive military strategy and execution: initial encirclement (trapping), sustained pursuit (no escape), and ultimate destruction (utter defeat). It reflects the complete control the Israelites exercised over the battle.
• from Gibeah... toward the east: This defines the geographic scope of the battle and subsequent slaughter. It was a prolonged rout that pushed the enemy over a considerable distance, emphasizing the thoroughness of the destruction.

Judges 20 43 Bonus section

The mention of "Menuhah" (מִמְּנוּחָה) in this verse, literally "from a resting place," creates a significant interpretive challenge for translators and scholars. While some identify it as an unknown geographical location, the more compelling interpretation, given the context of a desperate flight and relentless pursuit, is its adverbial use, implying that the Benjamites were given "no rest" or were pursued "without respite." This adverbial sense powerfully conveys the unyielding nature of the Israelite pursuit, highlighting their determination to thoroughly eradicate the Benjamite forces, ensuring that not only were they defeated in battle but utterly broken and scattered without pause or recovery. This emphasizes the comprehensive and merciless character of the divine judgment and the resultant human action in the battle.

Judges 20 43 Commentary

Judges 20:43 presents the devastating culmination of the Benjamite war, a vivid and sobering portrayal of civil strife and judgment. Following two initial defeats where Israel suffered greatly, this verse marks God's hand turning the tide. The language used, describing the Benjamites as being "surrounded," "chased," and "trod down," emphasizes a complete and utterly decisive defeat. It was not merely a battle won, but an extermination where the pursued were given no rest, symbolizing a pouring out of judgment and strength from Benjamin. The pursuit stretching "from Gibeah" towards the "east" highlights the extent and thoroughness of the annihilation, leaving the Benjamites without a viable retreat or stronghold. This horrific outcome serves as a stark warning about the consequences of societal and individual sin, particularly defending wickedness (the atrocity at Gibeah), within a covenant community, and the chaotic results when there is no righteous spiritual or temporal leadership. It reflects a dark period where internal justice, though brutal, was meted out due to profound moral corruption.