Judges 20:21

Verse

And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.

American Standard Version (1901)

And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty and two thousand men.

Bible in Basic English

Then the children of Benjamin came out from Gibeah, cutting down twenty-two thousand of the Israelites that day.

Free Bible Version

But the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the children of Beniamin came out of Gibeah, and slewe downe to the ground of the Israelites that day two and twentie thousand men.

King James (Authorized) Version

And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

Translation for Translators

The men of the tribe of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and fought against them, and they killed 22,000 Israeli men on that day.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and they killed twenty-two thousand men of the army of Israel on that day.

Noah Webster Bible

And the children of Benjamin came forth from Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

World English Bible

The children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day destroyed twenty-two thousand of the Israelite men down to the ground.

Young's Literal Translation

and the sons of Benjamin come out from Gibeah, and destroy in Israel on that day two and twenty thousand men — to the earth.

Context

Civil War against Benjamin

²⁰And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah.²¹And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.

Sermons

What Happened?

K.P. Yohannan

Summary

In this verse, the tribe of Benjamin defeats the Israelites in battle, causing them to lose confidence and morale. The Israelites had sought justice for a heinous crime committed by some men of Benjamin, but the tables turned against them. This event highlights the consequences of sin and the importance of seeking God's guidance before taking action. It serves as a reminder of the need for unity and righteousness among God's people to avoid division and defeat.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah,.... Which was their place of rendezvous, and which they came to defend; and in and about which they had stationed their whole army of 26,000 men: and destroyed down to the ground: killed dead upon the spot: of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men; wanting but 4000 of their whole number, excepting the men of Gibeah, which was such a rebuff the Israelites did not expect, being engaged in so just a cause, and having such a numerous army. Several Jewish, writers (q) think this was on account of their idolatry, that though they were very zealous to revenge corporeal adultery in the case of the Levite's concubine, and to remove such iniquity from Israel; yet were not zealous to revenge and put away spiritual adultery or idolatry in the case of the Danites, who had set up the image of Micah, and so had spread idolatry not only in their own tribe, but throughout Israel; and therefore God took this opportunity to avenge his own quarrel, and rebuke them for their sin; and now did Benjamin raven as a wolf, according to Jacob's prophecy, Gen 49:27. (q) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 103. 2. Pirke Eliezer, c. 28. Jarchi & Kimchi in loc.