Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and easily overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. New Living Translation The Israelites surrounded the men of Benjamin and chased them relentlessly, finally overtaking them east of Gibeah. English Standard Version Surrounding the Benjaminites, they pursued them and trod them down from Nohah as far as opposite Gibeah on the east. Berean Standard Bible They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. King James Bible Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising. New King James Version They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and easily trampled them down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the east. New American Standard Bible They surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest, and trampled them down opposite Gibeah toward the east. NASB 1995 They surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest and trod them down opposite Gibeah toward the east. NASB 1977 They surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest and trod them down opposite Gibeah toward the east. Legacy Standard Bible They surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest, and trod them down opposite Gibeah to the east toward the sunrise. Amplified Bible They surrounded [the men of] Benjamin, pursued them relentlessly, and overtook them opposite Gibeah toward the east. Christian Standard Bible They surrounded the Benjaminites, pursued them, and easily overtook them near Gibeah toward the east. Holman Christian Standard Bible They surrounded the Benjaminites, pursued them, and easily overtook them near Gibeah toward the east. American Standard Version They inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trod them down at their resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising. Contemporary English Version who were having to fight on all sides. The Israelite soldiers never let up their attack. They chased and killed the warriors of Benjamin as far as a place directly east of Gibeah, English Revised Version They enclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down at their resting place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising. GOD'S WORD® Translation They closed in on the men of Benjamin and pursued them without stopping. They overtook them east of Gibeah. Good News Translation The Israelites had the enemy trapped, and without stopping they pursued them as far as a point east of Gibeah, killing them as they went. International Standard Version They surrounded the army of Benjamin, pursuing them ceaselessly until they defeated them near the east-facing border of Gibeah. NET Bible They surrounded the Benjaminites, chased them from Nohah, and annihilated them all the way to a spot east of Geba. New Heart English Bible They surrounded Benjamin, and they pursued them from Nohah and overtook them near Gibeah toward the east. Webster's Bible Translation Thus they inclosed the Benjaminites on all sides, and chased them, and trod them down with ease over against Gibeah towards the sun-rising. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThey surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. World English Bible They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and trod them down at their resting place, as far as near Gibeah toward the sunrise. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionthey have surrounded the Benjamites—they have pursued them—they have trodden them down with ease as far as the front of Gibeah, at the sun-rising. Young's Literal Translation they have compassed the Benjamites -- they have pursued them -- with ease they have trodden them down till over-against Gibeah, at the sun-rising. Smith's Literal Translation They surrounded Benjamin, pursuing him from Nohah, treading him down even to the front of Gibeah, from the rising of the sun. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd so it was, that they were slain on both sides by the enemies, and there was no rest of their men dying. They fell and were beaten down on the east side of the city Gabaa. Catholic Public Domain Version And so it happened that they were cut down on both sides by the enemies, nor was there any respite for the dying. They were killed and struck down on the eastern side of the city of Gibeah. New American Bible They surrounded the men of Benjamin, pursued them from Nohah and drove them along to a point east of Gibeah. New Revised Standard Version Cutting down the Benjaminites, they pursued them from Nohah and trod them down as far as a place east of Gibeah. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThus they pursued the Benjamites and drove them away, and smote them with ease, to the east beyond Gibeah. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they pursued Benyamin and they expelled him, and with ease they slew him unto Gebah from the dawning of the sun OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and overtook them at their resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they cut down Benjamin, and pursued him from Nua closely till they came opposite Gabaa on the east. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Civil War Against Benjamin…42So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there. 43They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. 44And 18,000 Benjamites fell, all men of valor.… Cross References Joshua 8:22 Meanwhile, those in the ambush came out of the city against them, and the men of Ai were trapped between the Israelite forces on both sides. So Israel struck them down until no survivor or fugitive remained. 1 Samuel 14:20 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. 2 Samuel 22:38-39 I pursued my enemies and destroyed them; I did not turn back until they were consumed. / I devoured and crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. Psalm 18:37-38 I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed. / I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. Isaiah 63:3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. Jeremiah 25:33 Those slain by the LORD on that day will be spread from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like dung lying on the ground. Lamentations 2:21 Both young and old lie together in the dust of the streets. My young men and maidens have fallen by the sword. You have slain them in the day of Your anger; You have slaughtered them without compassion. Ezekiel 21:14 ‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword of great slaughter closing in on every side! Hosea 13:3 Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window. Amos 9:1 I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said: “Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Topple them on the heads of all the people, and I will kill the rest with the sword. None of those who flee will get away; none of the fugitives will escape. Matthew 24:28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Luke 17:37 “Where, Lord?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.” Romans 11:22 Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 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. Treasury of Scripture Thus they enclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and stepped them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sun rise. inclosed Judges 8:20-22 Jump to Previous Benjamin Benjaminites Benjamites Chased Cutting Driving Ease Easily East Inclosed Nohah Opposite Overran Overtook Pursued Resting Resting-Place Round Sides Sunrise Sunrising Sun-Rising Surrounded Towards Trod Trodden TrodeJump to Next Benjamin Benjaminites Benjamites Chased Cutting Driving Ease Easily East Inclosed Nohah Opposite Overran Overtook Pursued Resting Resting-Place Round Sides Sunrise Sunrising Sun-Rising Surrounded Towards Trod Trodden TrodeJudges 20 1. The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong8. 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. They surrounded the Benjamites The tribe of Benjamin was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's youngest son, Benjamin. The surrounding of the Benjamites by the other Israelite tribes signifies a strategic military maneuver, indicating the severity of the conflict. This event is part of a larger narrative where the Israelites sought justice for a grievous crime committed in Gibeah, a Benjamite city. The surrounding of the Benjamites can be seen as a fulfillment of divine justice, as the Israelites sought to purge evil from among them, a recurring theme in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 13:5). pursued them and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east Persons / Places / Events 1. The BenjamitesA tribe of Israel, descended from Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob. In this context, they are engaged in a civil war against the other Israelite tribes due to the grievous sin committed in Gibeah. 2. The Israelites The collective tribes of Israel, excluding Benjamin, who have gathered to execute judgment on the tribe of Benjamin for their refusal to hand over the perpetrators of a heinous crime. 3. Gibeah A city in the territory of Benjamin, where the crime that sparked the conflict took place. It is the focal point of the battle described in Judges 20. 4. The Battle A significant conflict between the tribe of Benjamin and the other Israelite tribes, resulting in the near annihilation of the Benjamites. 5. The Pursuit The Israelites' strategic encirclement and pursuit of the Benjamites, leading to their defeat. Teaching Points The Consequences of SinThe events in Judges 20 highlight the severe consequences of unrepentant sin and the importance of addressing wrongdoing within a community. Unity and Division The civil war among the Israelites serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of division within God's people and the need for unity in righteousness. Justice and Mercy While justice was served against the Benjamites, the broader account in Judges 20-21 also shows the need for mercy and restoration, as the Israelites later seek to preserve the tribe of Benjamin. The Role of Leadership The absence of strong, godly leadership in Israel during this period ("In those days Israel had no king") underscores the need for righteous leaders to guide God's people. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Judges 20Judges 20:15 - How could only 26,000 men from Benjamin withstand the combined forces of Israel for so long, given the massive numerical imbalance? Why does the text promote the abduction of women as a solution for the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 21:20-23)? How could an all-knowing God condone vows leading to violence against families and communities (Judges 21:1-11)? Judges 20:29-34 - Does the described ambush and subsequent slaughter align with known military strategies from this period, or does it reflect later editorial insertions?(43) A strong and poetic description of the total rout and massacre which ensued. With ease.--There is no "with" in the Hebrew, but perhaps it may be understood. The LXX. and Luther make it mean "from Noria." Others render it "in their rest," i.e., in the places to which they fled for refuge. The Vulg. paraphrases it: "Nor was there any repose of the dying." But the whole verse is obscure. Verse 43. - Thus they inclosed, etc. Another difficult passage, having all the appearance of being a quotation from some poetical description of the battle. The tenses of the verbs and the absence of any conjunctions in the Hebrew makes the diction like that of Judges 5:19. The italic words thus and the two ands ought to be omitted, to give the stately march of the original. "They inclosed, etc.; they chased them; they trod them down," etc. They inclosed seems to refer to the stratagem by which the Benjamites were surrounded by the ambush in their rear and the Israelites in front. Then came the pursuit - "they chased them;" then the massacre - "they trod them down." The three verbs describe the three stages of the battle. With ease. It does not seem possible that the Hebrew word menuchah can have this meaning. It means sometimes a place of rest, and sometimes a state of rest. Taking the latter meaning, the words they trod them into rest may mean they quieted them by crushing them to death under their feet, or in rest may mean unresisting. Some render it unto Menuchah, as if Menuchah was the name of a place, or from Nochah, as the Septuagint does. Others, at the place of rest, i.e. at every place where they halted to rest the enemy was upon them.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew They surroundedכִּתְּר֤וּ (kit·tə·rū) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3803: To enclose, to crown, to besiege, to wait the Benjamites, בִּנְיָמִן֙ (bin·yā·min) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1144: Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites pursued them, הִרְדִיפֻ֔הוּ (hir·ḏî·p̄u·hū) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine singular Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute and easily מְנוּחָ֖ה (mə·nū·ḥāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4496: Repose, peacefully, consolation, an abode overtook them הִדְרִיכֻ֑הוּ (hiḏ·rî·ḵu·hū) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine singular Strong's 1869: To tread, to walk, to string a, bow in the vicinity עַ֛ד (‘aḏ) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while of Gibeah הַגִּבְעָ֖ה (hag·giḇ·‘āh) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 1390: Gibeah -- 'hill', three cities in Palestine on the east. שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃ (šā·meš) Noun - common singular Strong's 8121: The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement Links Judges 20:43 NIVJudges 20:43 NLT Judges 20:43 ESV Judges 20:43 NASB Judges 20:43 KJV Judges 20:43 BibleApps.com Judges 20:43 Biblia Paralela Judges 20:43 Chinese Bible Judges 20:43 French Bible Judges 20:43 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 20:43 They surrounded the Benjamites chased them (Jd Judg. 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