Judges 20 45

Judges 20:45 kjv

And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.

Judges 20:45 nkjv

Then they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; and they cut down five thousand of them on the highways. Then they pursued them relentlessly up to Gidom, and killed two thousand of them.

Judges 20:45 niv

As they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, the Israelites cut down five thousand men along the roads. They kept pressing after the Benjamites as far as Gidom and struck down two thousand more.

Judges 20:45 esv

And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. Five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways. And they were pursued hard to Gidom, and 2,000 men of them were struck down.

Judges 20:45 nlt

The survivors fled into the wilderness toward the rock of Rimmon, but Israel killed 5,000 of them along the road. They continued the chase until they had killed another 2,000 near Gidom.

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 45 Meaning

Judges 20:45 details the continued pursuit and slaughter of the fleeing Benjamite forces by the other Israelite tribes after their defeat in battle. Describing their desperate flight towards the wilderness and the Rock of Rimmon, the verse starkly notes how their pursuers systematically "gleaned" or picked off 5,000 men along the roads. The chase intensified, extending to Gidom, where an additional 2,000 men were slain, highlighting the ruthless and comprehensive nature of the judgment carried out against the Benjamites for their wickedness in Gibeah.

Judges 20 45 Context

Judges chapter 20 describes the Israelite civil war against the tribe of Benjamin, prompted by the heinous crime committed in Gibeah (chapter 19). The Levite's concubine was raped and murdered, leading to an assembly of all other Israelite tribes demanding justice from Benjamin. When Benjamin refused to hand over the perpetrators, war broke out. Initially, the Israelites suffered two devastating defeats, questioning God's command. After renewed prayer and fasting, the Lord delivered Benjamin into their hands. Judges 20:45 details the aftermath of this final decisive battle, illustrating the relentless and brutal pursuit of the surviving Benjamite warriors. It highlights the completeness of their defeat and the heavy cost of their wickedness and tribal solidarity in sin, bringing the entire tribe to the brink of extinction. This context reveals a dark period in Israel's history, marked by moral decay, inter-tribal conflict, and God's severe judgment against covenant unfaithfulness.

Judges 20 45 Word analysis

• "And they turned and fled": Hebrew: וַיִּפְנוּ וַיָּנֻסוּ (vayyipnu vayyanusu). "Turned" indicates a shift from engagement to retreat, while "fled" (from nus, "to flee, escape") signifies a desperate, rapid departure to avoid capture or death. This phrase underscores their utter defeat and desperation.
• "toward the wilderness": Hebrew: הַמִּדְבָּרָה (hammidbara). The wilderness (midbar) is often a desolate, unpopulated area, traditionally a place of refuge or wandering, but here it becomes the open terrain for a grim hunt. It offers no sanctuary but exposes them further.
• "unto the rock of Rimmon": Hebrew: סֶלַע הָרִמּוֹן (selaʻ hāRimmon). A specific landmark, the "Rock of the pomegranate" (or "high place of Rimmon"), served as a desperate and ultimately limited refuge for the surviving 600 Benjamites (Judg 20:47). Its mention signifies the extreme and narrow extent of their survival.
• "and they gleaned of them": Hebrew: וַיְלַקְּטוּ (vaylaqṭu) from the root laqat, meaning "to gather, pick up, glean." This is a stark and chilling metaphor. While "gleaning" typically refers to gathering leftover grain for the poor (e.g., Ruth 2:2, Lev 19:9-10), here it grimly describes the methodical, deliberate killing of scattered survivors. It's not a chaotic slaughter but a thorough, almost agricultural process of eliminating remnants. This indicates the complete rout and the relentless intent of the pursuers to ensure almost no escape.
• "in the highways": Hebrew: בַּמְּסִלּוֹת (bamməsillot) from məsillah, "road, highway." This suggests the Benjamites attempted to flee on common, known paths, which, paradoxically, made them easy targets for organized pursuit rather than hiding places. Their desperate attempt to escape on established routes became their downfall.
• "five thousand men": A significant number of casualties, indicating a continued, widespread killing after the initial defeat.
• "and pursued hard after them": Hebrew: וַיִּרְדְּפוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם (vayyirdephu achareihem). Radap means "to pursue, chase." The addition of "hard" conveys intense, persistent, and unyielding pursuit. There was no mercy shown in their flight.
• "unto Gidom": Another specific location, indicating the geographical extent of the pursuit. This suggests the relentless chase continued over a significant distance.
• "and slew two thousand men of them": Additional precise count of fatalities. The verse offers a horrific accounting of the continuing destruction, leading to a massive loss of life for the Benjamite tribe.

Judges 20 45 Bonus section

The phrase "gleaned of them" is highly impactful due to its metaphorical reversal. Usually, gleaning is an act of compassion, allowing the poor to gather leftovers. Here, it is an act of merciless destruction, where the 'gleaners' are hunters of men, thoroughly picking off every last one they can find. This grotesque application of a common agricultural term underscores the utter lack of mercy in the pursuit and the horrific nature of the judgment. The level of violence and pursuit here signifies not just military victory, but a covenantal cleansing by the other tribes, ensuring that Benjamin pays a full and terrible price for countenancing sin within its borders.

Judges 20 45 Commentary

Judges 20:45 portrays the grim reality of the judgment executed upon Benjamin. Following their decisive defeat, the Benjamite forces experienced a complete rout and relentless pursuit. The vivid imagery of "gleaning" highlights the methodical and merciless hunting down of the fleeing men along established routes, far from the primary battlefield. This wasn't merely a flight; it was a systematic elimination, emphasizing the overwhelming force of the avenging Israelites and the severity of God's hand in their collective punishment for the evil of Gibeah. The specification of geographical locations (wilderness, Rock of Rimmon, Gidom) grounds the historical narrative in concrete details, testifying to the vast spread and persistence of this grim, inter-tribal war. The nearly total annihilation of Benjamin served as a stark lesson on the devastating consequences of national moral decay and corporate sin, revealing how communal complicity leads to communal suffering and near extinction.