Judges 20:36
New International Version
Then the Benjamites saw that they were beaten. Now the men of Israel had given way before Benjamin, because they relied on the ambush they had set near Gibeah.

New Living Translation
Then the men of Benjamin saw that they were beaten. The Israelites had retreated from Benjamin’s warriors in order to give those hiding in ambush more room to maneuver against Gibeah.

English Standard Version
So the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the Benjamites realized they had been defeated. Now the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because they were relying on the ambush they had set against Gibeah.

King James Bible
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

New King James Version
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel had given ground to the Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.

New American Standard Bible
So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. When the men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah,

NASB 1995
So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. When the men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah,

NASB 1977
So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. When the men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah,

Legacy Standard Bible
So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. Now the men of Israel had given ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.

Amplified Bible
So the Benjamites realized that they were defeated. Then men of Israel gave ground to the Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had placed against Gibeah.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the Benjaminites realized they had been defeated. The men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin, because they were confident in the ambush they had set against Gibeah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the Benjaminites realized they had been defeated. The men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin, because they were confident in the ambush they had set against Gibeah.

American Standard Version
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten; for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the liers-in-wait whom they had set against Gibeah.

English Revised Version
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set against Gibeah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the men of Benjamin realized they were defeated. The Israelites had allowed the men of Benjamin to take back some ground. The Israelites relied on those waiting in ambush near Gibeah.

Good News Translation
and the Benjaminites realized they were defeated. The main body of the Israelite army had retreated from the Benjaminites because they were relying on the men that they had put in hiding around Gibeah.

International Standard Version
Then the descendants of Benjamin realized that they had been defeated. The army of Israel pretended to retreat from the army of Benjamin, knowing that they had set some soldiers in ambush near Gibeah.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the Benjamites realized they had been defeated. Now the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because they were relying on the ambush they had set against Gibeah.

NET Bible
Then the Benjaminites saw they were defeated. The Israelites retreated before Benjamin, because they had confidence in the men they had hid in ambush outside Gibeah.

New Heart English Bible
So the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated; for the men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gibeah.

Webster's Bible Translation
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjaminites, because they trusted to the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

World English Bible
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck, for the men of Israel yielded to Benjamin because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gibeah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the sons of Benjamin see that they have been struck—and the men of Israel give place to Benjamin, for they have trusted in the ambush which they had set against Gibeah,

Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Benjamin see that they have been smitten -- and the men of Israel give place to Benjamin, for they have trusted unto the ambush which they had set against Gibeah,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sons of Benjamin will see that they were smitten: and the men of Israel will give place to Benjamin, for they trusted to the ambush which they put by Gibeah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the children of Benjamin when they saw themselves to be too weak, began to flee. Which the children of Israel seeing, gave them place to flee, that they might come to the ambushes that were prepared, which they had set near the city.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the sons of Benjamin, when they had seen themselves to be the weaker, began to flee. And the sons of Israel discerning this, gave them room to flee, so that they might arrive at the ambushes that were prepared, which they had positioned near the city.

New American Bible
Then the Benjaminites saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, trusting in the ambush they had set at Gibeah.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the Benjaminites saw that they were defeated. The Israelites gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted to the troops in ambush that they had stationed against Gibeah.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So the Benjamites saw that they were defeated; and the children of Israel gave ground to the Benjamites, because they trusted in the ambushes that they had set against Gibeah.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated and the sons of Israel gave place to the men of Benyamin, because they trusted in the ambush that they had set against Gebah
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten. And the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the liers-in-wait whom they had set against Gibeah.--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten; and the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted in the ambuscade which they had prepared against Gabaa.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Civil War Against Benjamin
35The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords. 36Then the Benjamites realized they had been defeated. Now the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because they were relying on the ambush they had set against Gibeah. 37The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword.…

Cross References
Joshua 8:15-20
Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness. / Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city. / Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city wide open while they pursued Israel. ...

2 Samuel 22:30
For in You I can charge an army; with my God I can scale a wall.

Psalm 18:29
For in You I can charge an army, and with my God I can scale a wall.

1 Samuel 14:20-23
Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor. / And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. / When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined the battle in close pursuit. ...

2 Chronicles 13:15-18
and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. And when they raised the cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. / So the Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. / Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain. ...

Isaiah 10:6
I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.

Hosea 10:9
Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity?

Jeremiah 6:23
They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Zion.”

Zechariah 10:5
They will be like mighty men in battle, trampling the enemy in the mire of the streets. They will fight because the LORD is with them, and they will put the horsemen to shame.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. / Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ...

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.


Treasury of Scripture

So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted to the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

for the man

Joshua 8:15
And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.

Jump to Previous
Ambush Ambushers Beaten Benjamin Benjaminites Benjamites Children Defeated Israel Liers Overcome Putting Relied Smitten Struck Trusted Wait Watchers Way
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Ambush Ambushers Beaten Benjamin Benjaminites Benjamites Children Defeated Israel Liers Overcome Putting Relied Smitten Struck Trusted Wait Watchers Way
Judges 20
1. The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong
8. The decree of the assembly
12. The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites
18. The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand
26. They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.














So the Benjamites realized they had been defeated
So
The word "so" serves as a conjunction, linking the events that have transpired with the realization of the Benjamites. It indicates a turning point in the narrative, a moment of clarity and consequence. In the broader context of Judges 20, this word marks the culmination of a series of battles between the tribe of Benjamin and the other Israelite tribes. The use of "so" suggests an inevitable outcome, a divine orchestration of justice following the grievous sin committed in Gibeah.

the Benjamites
The Benjamites, descendants of Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, are one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Historically, the tribe of Benjamin was known for its fierce warriors and strategic prowess. However, in this context, they are depicted as a tribe that has strayed from righteousness, defending the wickedness of Gibeah. The Benjamites' involvement in the conflict highlights the internal strife and moral decay within Israel, serving as a cautionary tale of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments.

realized
The Hebrew root for "realized" is often associated with perception and understanding. This moment of realization is not merely intellectual but deeply experiential. The Benjamites come to a profound awareness of their defeat, both physically and spiritually. It is a moment of reckoning, where the reality of their situation becomes undeniable. This realization is a pivotal moment, inviting reflection on the importance of aligning one's actions with divine will and the dangers of pride and stubbornness.

they had been defeated
The phrase "they had been defeated" signifies the outcome of the battle, but it also carries a deeper spiritual implication. The defeat of the Benjamites is not just a military loss but a divine judgment against their actions. In the Hebrew context, defeat often implies a loss of divine favor and protection. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of repentance and humility before God. The defeat of the Benjamites is a call to the entire nation of Israel to return to righteousness and to seek God's guidance in all their endeavors.

(36) That they were smitten.--The "they" refers to the Israelites. The rest of the verse gives the reason for the feigned flight.

Verses 36-41. - The children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten. Not of course after 25,000 of them had been smitten, but at that period of the battle more fully described in vers. 40, 41, when the Benjamites, looking behind them, saw Gibeah in flames, and immediately broke and fled towards the wilderness. In the latter half of this verse and in the following verses to ver. 41 the writer recapitulates all the preceding circumstances, some of which have been already mentioned, which led to the particular incident mentioned in the beginning of the verse, that "Benjamin saw that they were smitten;" viz., the feigned flight of the Israelites, the seizing and burning of Gibeah by the liers in wait, the signal of a great smoke, and the turning again of the flying Israelites. It was then that "the men of Benjamin saw that evil was come upon them," and turned their backs and fled. Thus vers. 36 (latter half)-41 bring us back through the details to the identical point already reached at the beginning of ver. 36. In vers. 39, 40 there is another retrograde movement in the narrative, in which the statement of vers. 31, 32 is repeated in order to bring into close juxtaposition Benjamin's keen pursuit of the enemy with his terror when he saw the smoke rising in his rear. Hasted (ver. 37). This is an amplification with further particulars of ver. 33. The liers in wait not only came forth out of their place, but they made a dash to get into Gibeah before the men of Gibeah, who were pursuing the flying Israelites, could be aware of their intention. Rushed upon. Perhaps better rendered fell upon. It is exactly the same phrase as 2 Samuel 27:8, there rather tamely rendered invaded and in ver. 10 made a road. Drew themselves along. Some take the word in the common sense of blowing the trumpet, but it rather means spread themselves out (ἐξεχὺθη, LXX.) through the defenceless city, so as to slay and burn in all parts simultaneously. That they should make a great flame with smoke, etc. (ver. 38). The Hebrew of this verse is difficult to construe, but the A.V. gives substantially the right sense. They seem to be the very orders given to the leader of the ambush. "Make them (the ambush) multiply to send up (i.e. send up in great quantities) the column of smoke from the city." It seems that the appearance of the smoke was the signal for the Israelites to turn (ver. 41). The flame, etc. (ver. 40). Rather, the column began to go up in (or as) a pillar of smoke. The flame of the city. Literally, the whole of the city, meaning of course the whole city in flames.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the Benjamites
בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

realized
וַיִּרְא֥וּ (way·yir·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

they had been defeated.
נִגָּ֑פוּ (nig·gā·p̄ū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5062: To push, gore, defeat, stub, inflict

Now the men
אִֽישׁ־ (’îš-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

had retreated
וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ (way·yit·tə·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

before Benjamin,
לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן (lə·ḇin·yā·min)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1144: Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they had confidence
בָֽטְחוּ֙ (ḇā·ṭə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 982: To trust, be confident, sure

in
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the ambush
הָ֣אֹרֵ֔ב (hā·’ō·rêḇ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 693: To lie in wait

they had set
שָׂ֖מוּ (śā·mū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

against
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Gibeah.
הַגִּבְעָֽה׃ (hag·giḇ·‘āh)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1390: Gibeah -- 'hill', three cities in Palestine


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OT History: Judges 20:36 So the children of Benjamin saw that (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 20:35
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