Judges 20 44

Judges 20:44 kjv

And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valor.

Judges 20:44 nkjv

And eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor.

Judges 20:44 niv

Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them valiant fighters.

Judges 20:44 esv

Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of them men of valor.

Judges 20:44 nlt

That day 18,000 of Benjamin's strongest warriors died in battle.

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 44 Meaning

Judges 20:44 states that during the devastating battle, eighteen thousand men from the tribe of Benjamin were killed. The verse emphasizes the tragic nature of this loss by specifying that all these fallen individuals were "men of valour," signifying their quality as skilled warriors or prominent members of their tribe. This detail highlights the immense blow to Benjamin, who were nearly annihilated in the civil war with the other tribes of Israel.

Judges 20 44 Context

Judges chapter 20 describes a horrific civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel. This war was initiated in response to the heinous rape and murder of the Levite's concubine by Benjamite men in Gibeah (Jdg 19). The other tribes, assembling at Mizpah, demanded justice, but Benjamin refused to hand over the culprits. Consequently, Israel attacked Benjamin. After two days of surprising defeats for Israel, during which 40,000 Israelites fell, the tribes inquired of the Lord again. On the third day, with a new battle strategy, the Lord gave Israel victory (Jdg 20:35). Verse 44 details the devastating human cost for Benjamin on this decisive day, where a massive portion of their fighting force was eradicated, contributing to the near-extinction of the tribe. The wider context of Judges portrays a spiral of moral decay in Israel, often summarized by the refrain, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 17:6, 21:25).

Judges 20 44 Word analysis

• And there fell: The Hebrew verb is "וַיִּפְּל֣וּ" (vayyippělû), a Qal imperfect consecutive from "נָפַל" (naphal), meaning "to fall, lie prostrate, fail." In a military context, it signifies falling in battle, i.e., being killed. The passive nature here (though in English, "fell" can be active) highlights the result of the combat and can implicitly point to the divine agency mentioned in Jdg 20:35 ("the LORD defeated Benjamin"), indicating this loss was divinely orchestrated as judgment.
• of Benjamin: The Hebrew "מִבִּנְיָמִ֗ן" (mibbinyāmīn) denotes the specific tribal identity. Benjamin, as the youngest of Jacob's sons, later became a smaller but formidable tribe known for its warriors (Gen 49:27, 1 Chr 12:2). This context emphasizes that these were not just random soldiers but men from a particular lineage known for their ferocity, making their defeat all the more significant.
• eighteen thousand men: The specific number "שְׁמֹונָה֩ עָשָׂ֨ר אֶ֖לֶף אִ֑ישׁ" (shĕmōw·nāh ‘ā·śār ’e·lep ’îš) highlights the exactitude of the divine judgment and the scale of the massacre. In ancient near-eastern warfare accounts, such numbers signify an overwhelming and decisive defeat. Given Benjamin's initial strength of 26,000 swordsmen plus 700 chosen men (Jdg 20:17), this number represents a substantial portion—roughly two-thirds—of their fighting force.
• all these were men of valour: The Hebrew phrase "כָּל־אֵ֥לֶּה אַנְשֵׁי־חַֽיִל" (kol-’êl·leh ’anšê-ḥā·yil) is highly significant.
  • כָּל־אֵ֥לֶּה (kol-’êl·leh): "all these," stresses the universal characteristic applying to the entire 18,000, underscoring the completeness of the loss of their elite.
  • אַנְשֵׁי־חַֽיִל (’anšê-ḥā·yil): "men of valour." The word "חַיִל" (chayil) is a rich Hebrew term with multiple connotations:
    • Military strength/prowess: Often translated as "valour," "might," "strength." It refers to highly capable warriors, skilled in battle, courageous. This reinforces the idea that the Benjaminite forces were not weak but elite.
    • Wealth/resources: It can also refer to wealth, property, or resources, signifying a man of means or substance in the community.
    • Virtue/integrity: In other contexts, it can mean a man of character or virtue, like the "excellent wife" (אֵשֶׁת חַיִל, 'eshet chayil) in Prov 31:10.
    • In this military context, it primarily emphasizes their martial skill and the physical quality of the men. The description emphasizes that these were Benjamin's prime warriors, not just ordinary soldiers. Their loss therefore represented a crippling blow, indicating the quality, not just the quantity, of the decimated force.

Judges 20 44 Bonus section

The severe blow described in Judges 20:44 led to the dire situation in the following chapter, where the remaining tribes were faced with the ethical dilemma of how to ensure the survival of the tribe of Benjamin. With only six hundred men remaining, and a vow against intermarriage, extraordinary measures—including the raid on Jabesh-Gilead and the abduction of women from Shiloh—were deemed necessary to provide wives for the Benjamite survivors. This subsequent narrative underscores just how profoundly catastrophic the losses on the third day of battle were, to the extent that it threatened the very existence of one of Israel's tribes, further emphasizing the horror and desperation borne out of this internecine conflict.

Judges 20 44 Commentary

Judges 20:44 marks a tragic and pivotal moment in the Israelite civil war, highlighting the extreme judgment that fell upon Benjamin. The verse underscores the devastating outcome of their unrighteous defiance against the demand for justice regarding the atrocity in Gibeah. The casualty figure of eighteen thousand men is staggering, signifying an overwhelming and decisive defeat for a tribe already significantly outnumbered. The description "men of valour" ('anshei-chayil) heightens the sense of tragedy. These were not merely common soldiers but the very best, the strongest, and most capable warriors—the elite core of Benjamin's fighting force. Their obliteration speaks volumes about the severity of divine judgment and the consequences of sin when a community defiantly supports evil. This devastating loss brought Benjamin to the brink of extinction, demonstrating the destructive power of internal strife and moral decay within God's people. The verse is a stark reminder of the ultimate cost when justice is perverted and divine standards are forsaken.